CLEVELAND, Ga. (January 24, 2025) – The Truett McConnell University Athletic department is excited to announce Alex Buchman as the Head Pickleball Coach. Buchman, the TMU Men's Soccer Assistant Coach, joins the program with eight years of experience coaching and mentoring athletes in both the Collegiate, High School, and Club levels, while also mentoring athletes in their spiritual walks with Christ. 
 
"I am extremely excited to be able to help grow the sport of Pickleball here at TMU," said Buchman. "Over the past five years I have seen the sport grow exponentially and I'm looking forward to the years of growth to come for the sport. Thank you to the Vice President for Athletics, Jenni Shepard for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity to mentor students in their walk with Christ, through the vessel of pickleball."
 
Buchman, a Waterford, Wisconsin native graduated from Waterford Union High School in 2012 and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration (2015) and Master of Higher Education Leadership (2017) from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. While at UWW, Buchman was a member of the men's soccer team and helped lead the Warhawks to back-to-back national tournament appearances in 2014 and 2015. Buchman was also named Most Valuable Player by the Warhawks in 2015 for his contributions in the keeper position. After College, Buchman went on to work for the Milwaukee Brewers in Fan Engagement, where he ran in the famous sausage race on home game days.
 
Buchman has been an active participant in USA pickleball over the past five years and currently holds a Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) of 4.537.
 
"We are excited to have Coach Buchman lead the pickleball program," said Vice President for Athletics Jenni Shepard. "Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country at all levels and I'm excited to see what he is able to accomplish as he continues to disciple young men and women through their walks with Christ."
 
Buchman and his wife Abby currently serve as Middle School and High School student group leaders at Christ Place East.
 
Prospective athletes interested in joining the pickleball program may contact Coach Buchman at abuchman@truett.edu or (262)-470-2408.