Willie Buchanon, Chris Chambliss and Joe Paopao, three of the greatest athletes to wear a MiraCosta College uniform, will be among the first inductees into the Spartans’ inaugural Hall of Fame class.
The induction ceremony is set for 3 p.m. Saturday in the college’s new gym. The first Hall of Fame class also includes baseball coach John Seeley, men’s basketball coach Clete Adelman and women’s volleyball and basketball coach Roxanne Demik as well as the 1975 state champion baseball team and the back-to-back women’s volleyball state champs of 1980 and ’81.
Buchanon, Chambliss and Paopao all played at Oceanside High School before heading to MiraCosta, a nearby two-year school.
Buchanon was an All-American football player at MiraCosta in 1969 before heading to San Diego State, where he earned more All-America honors. The Green Bay Packers took Buchanon in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft. A cornerback, Buchanon was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1972. He intercepted an NFL-record-tying four passes against his hometown Chargers in 1978. A standout baseball player, he was also drafted by the San Diego Padres.
Chambliss was drafted twice by baseball’s Cincinnati Reds out of MiraCosta, but did not sign. He instead transferred to UCLA, where he starred before Cleveland drafted him in 1970.
Chambliss was named American League Rookie of the Year in 1971. He gained fame with the New York Yankees, playing on World Series championship teams in 1977 and ’78. He was the hitting coach for the Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1996, ’98, ’99 and 2000.
Paopao, a quarterback nicknamed “The Throwin’ Samoan,” played two years at MiraCosta before transferring to Long Beach State. He played professionally in the Canadian Football League and is one of the league’s all-time greats. He also coached in the CFL for more than three decades.
Buchanan and Chambliss will also be in attendance at Sunday’s 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services at the New Song Community Church, where they will meet with the congregation.
Originally Published: June 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM PDT