High School
Starkville High, 1958-63
- Three-year football letterman and quarterback
- Team MVP as a senior
Junior College
East Mississippi Community College, 1964-65
- Two-time All-State and All American quarterback
- Two-time MVP
- Led team to two-year record of 19-3-1
- EMCC was ranked No. 1 in nation and undefeated before jaw injury ended his sophomore season
- Set school, state and national passing and total offense records
- Played for legendary Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Bull Sullivan
College
Mississippi State, 1966
- Recruited nationally but chose State over Tennessee and many others
- All-SEC Academic team
- Threw the first two touchdowns in history of the Houston Astrodome
Delta State, 1967
- Team MVP
- Set numerous Delta State passing records
- Finished his four years of college football with 55 touchdown passes
Professional
Atlanta Falcons (1967-69)
- Drafted in the late rounds by the Falcons out of Delta State
- Optioned to Alabama Hawks, Falcons Continental Football League farm club
- Led Hawks, based in Huntsville, to two CFL division titles in 1968-69
Coaching
High School
- Assistant coach Huntsville High, 1968
- Assistant coach Kosciusko High, 1969
- Head coach Starkville Academy, 1970
Junior College
- Head coach East Miss., 1971-74
- Four-year record of 22-18
- State North Division title, 1974
- Selected North All-Star coach, 1973-74
- Head coach Hinds CC, 1978-87
- Eight-year record of 39-40-1
- Also served as Director of Development and on the President’s Cabinet
College
- Assistant coach Delta State, 1975-77
- Assistant coach Miss. State, 1978
Administration
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- State director, 1987-present
- Under Buckner’s leadership, FCA has increased from a one-person staff to a full-time staff 21.
- The FCA has increased from being in under 100 schools to now being on nearly 400 Mississippi campuses.
Did you know?
- Buckner has the unusual distinction of being the Most Valuable Player on three different teams over four of five football seasons. He was selected the MVP of Starkville High (1962), East Mississsippi CC (1963-64) and Delta State (1966).
- Buckner helped form the original chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Mississippi State in 1966.