Buie Makes Journey from Eastside Student to its Athletic Director

Young Donald Buie III grew up just minutes from Citizens Field, eagerly watching Eastside football and listening to the band on Friday nights. He dreamed of one day dressing out in the same orange and green. 

Buie never imagined he would eventually return to Eastside High School to lead the entire athletic program.

Now, the 2011 Eastside graduate walks the same hallways he once did as a student, this time as the school’s athletic director.

“When I was named athletic director, it was kind of surreal,” Buie said. “Being a student who walked these halls and not even having the thought that that was a possibility of coming back as athletic director, I definitely take it seriously.”

Buie was selected as Eastside’s athletic director in June, replacing Derek Gonsoulin. For Buie, the position is more than a title; it’s a place where he can impact students in many ways. 

As a senior on the  2010 EHS football team, Buie was a standout. He recorded 57 tackles, a still-standing school-record six interceptions, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick on his way to first-team all-area honors. 

He was a dual-athlete, also playing basketball as a point guard.

Buie’s success continued at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina, where he received a full scholarship and played all four years. He finished his collegiate career with 124 tackles, four interceptions and 19 pass breakups.

After college, Buie’s connection to Eastside brought him back. 

He worked as an accountant with Alachua County Public Schools before returning to Eastside as a teacher and eventually spending four years as the football program’s defensive coordinator.

Now, he oversees athletics across the school.

Principal Leroy Williams said Buie’s experience as an Eastside student-athlete and collegiate football player made him familiar with the school’s culture and its student-athletes’ experiences.

“Having someone of his caliber serving as our athletic director, someone who once walked the same hallways as our students, speaks volumes,” Williams said.

Buie is making that connection visible in his day-to-day work. Even after moving into the athletic director’s office, he still gets involved with the athletes, continuing his role as defensive coordinator for the football team.

“I try to get hands-on in here with the guys, run scout team and work out with them and run with them,” Buie said. “Show them that even though I’m your coach, I’m right here with you.”

That philosophy, Buie says, came from one of his mentors, Kent Johnson, who was Buie’s high school football coach at Eastside, and taught him leadership that extends beyond football.

“Everybody that played for him just admired the man that he was and the life lessons he taught,” Buie said. “It was bigger than football.”

Now, Buie prioritizes that connection with the next generation of Rams. One, in particular, is with Malicah Williams, an Eastside football player who had five interceptions as a freshman, earning all-state honors.

When Buie asked Williams why he stayed at Eastside, he said: “Because I respect you guys as coaches.”

“Stuff like that means the world to me,” Buie said. “Even when I’m tired and aggravated, those words replay in my mind. They give me that extra motivation to keep going forward.”

The athletic director’s job comes with plenty of work away from the field, from making sure athletes are eligible and have the necessary physicals and newly required EKGs to maintaining Eastside’s athletic facilities.

“Mainly making sure everybody’s eligible. There’s a lot of back-office things,” Buie said of his most important task.

Since being hired, he is still processing the other programs.

“I have been the AD since June, so I haven’t really gotten a chance to mingle,” Buie said.

The newfound responsibility, however, does not scare him. 

“When you’re in this role, there’s no complaining, there’s no whining about it,” Buie said.

And while Eastside has faced a difficult start to the football season (1-4), Buie said he is treating the experience as another opportunity to learn.

“I hate that we’re losing right now,” Buie said. “I’m taking everything as a learning lesson to see what good can maybe come from this tough season we’re having so far.”

Football coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins says having a man like Buie in charge brings him a sense of confidence. 

“Having somebody who I grew up with and that I trust in that position, I feel very confident,” Hoskins said.  

For Buie, his job represents the chance to give back to the place that raised him. 

“There are a lot of people that are in my corner, rooting for me,” Buie said. “Every day I wake up thinking that I cannot let them down. I definitely take the job seriously.”

Category: Eastside High School, High School Sports