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Last modified: Thursday, July 21, 2011

W. Quinn Buckner's biography

July 21, 2011

W. Quinn Buckner, vice president of communications for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, has been elected to the Indiana University Foundation Board of Directors.

W. Quinn Buckner

W. Quinn Buckner

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"Quinn has been known for his leadership and dependability throughout his career as a college and professional basketball player and as part of the Pacers organization," said Foundation President Gene Tempel. "We know he will bring the same spirit of teamwork to our Foundation's board."

An IU Bloomington graduate, Buckner was captain of the 1976 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship team, the last college basketball team to go undefeated and win the national championship. He was also captain of the 1976 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Basketball team.

Chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 1976 NBA draft, Buckner played for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics, and the Indiana Pacers during his 10-year career as an NBA player. He later spent a season as head coach for the Dallas Mavericks. He shares with Magic Johnson and Jerry Lucas the distinction of winning a basketball championship at every level: high school, college, the Olympics and the NBA.

Buckner has spent 14 seasons as a cable TV color analyst for the Indiana Pacers and was named vice president of communications for Pacers Sports & Entertainment in 2004. His broadcasting work prior to joining the Pacers' television staff includes three seasons as an analyst with the Cleveland Cavaliers and two seasons as an NBA analyst for NBC. He has also called NCAA and NBA games for CBS Sports and was an NBA analyst on ESPN Radio.

Buckner has served on the boards of numerous charities, including The Indiana Youth Institute, Pacers Foundation, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Center for Leadership Development, Community Health Network Foundation, Special Olympics of Indiana, Indianapolis Zoological Society, United Way of Central Indiana and The First Tee of Indianapolis.

A lifetime member of the IU Alumni Association, Buckner holds a B.S. in General Management from the IU Kelley School of Business. While a student at IU Bloomington, he played football for two years before deciding to focus on basketball. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Buckner received the men's basketball team MVP award in 1975. He was inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and is a member of the I Association.