Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Chet Buchanan returning as Rebels’ hype man

UNLV Runnin' Rebels 2012 First Look

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

UNLV forward Mike Moser messes around with announcer Chet Buchanan during the team’s First Look scrimmage Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 at the Thomas & Mack.

UNLV announced Tuesday that former on-court host Chet Buchanan will return as an emcee for Runnin’ Rebels basketball games this season.

Buchanan, a local radio personality known for his annual KLUC Toy Drive, previously served as an in-game emcee for the Rebels from 2006 to 2014. In addition to handling various in-game announcements and promotions, he was also tasked with keeping the crowd engaged and rooting for the Rebels.

UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said that fan response was a big factor in the reunion.

“One suggestion we heard during our listening tour, through fan surveys and from the new Rebel Fan Council on improving in-game atmosphere, engagement, and entertainment, was bringing back Chet,” Reed-Francois said in a statement.

Buchanan left his position late in the 2013-14 season, and several people have filled in as hype men in the years since, though the role was scaled back.

Buchanan spent the summer as the PA announcer for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces during their first season at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. He will make a guest appearance at the UNLV football home opener against UTEP on Sept. 8.

"I'm beyond excited to get to live a dream twice and once again join the incredible teams at UNLV athletics,” Buchanan said in a statement. “We are already hard at work to make Rebel fans' gameday experience the best we possibly can, and to help make Sam Boyd Stadium and the Thomas & Mack Center really difficult places for opposing teams to play. I can't wait to help create more amazing moments and MAKE...SOME...NOISE! See you soon, Rebel fans!"

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.

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