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It Can Change Everything | A Real-Life Example of How to Build a Coaching Tree

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May 11, 2026

Guest

R.C. Buford

R. C. Buford, longtime Spurs executive and CEO who helped build a championship culture, shares how a people-first organization develops future leaders. Short takes cover team culture, succession planning, the Spurs coaching tree, and how mentorship creates lasting influence. Conversations spotlight model leaders, community-driven retention, and spreading leadership beyond sports.

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ANECDOTE

Seeing Multi Generation Leadership At A Spurs Game

Ryan describes sitting with Spurs alumni like Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan at a playoff game and witnessing multi-generation leadership in the stands.
He recounts R.C. Buford inviting his family to a box and the visible continuity as former players and staff remained part of the organization.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Former Players Stay Engaged With Spurs Organization

Ryan recounts Tim Duncan briefly serving as an assistant and staying in the organization, illustrating retired players supporting Popovich.
Many Spurs alumni live in San Antonio and use the new facility's alumni locker room, showing durable ties beyond playing careers.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Spurs Give Rings To Everyone Who Contributes

R.C. Buford describes the Spurs hiring and developing staff beyond players and coaches, from video to sales to stats people.
Ryan noticed an elevator operator wearing a championship ring because the organization gives rings to all contributors, showing inclusive culture.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

How a Single Book Can Change Lives

03:04 • 6min

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Graduation Gift Reading Suggestions

08:54 • 4min

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Attending the Spurs Playoff Game

12:57 • 11sec

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Building Culture vs. Managing Risk

13:08 • 1min

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Leaders Who Model Standards

14:29 • 2min

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Making San Antonio a Destination

16:31 • 1min

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Everyone Is Part Of The Organization

Popovich's Coaching Forest Impact

21:32 • 2min

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Coaching Trees Beyond Sports

George Marshall's Leadership Legacy

27:07 • 57sec

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Examples Of Generosity And Mentorship

28:04 • 2min

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The Candle That Lights Another

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

Letters to a Young Athlete

Pat Riley

Chris Bosh

In 'Letters to a Young Athlete', Chris Bosh shares his journey from a young athlete to an NBA legend, offering insights into the inner game of success. The book blends memoir elements with wisdom on life, drawing from experiences with basketball legends like LeBron, Kobe, and Coach K. It is a guide for young athletes and anyone seeking excellence, focusing on themes like purpose, teamwork, and resilience.

• Mentioned in 722 episodes

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

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Way of the Champion

Bill Belichick

Paul Rabil

In 'The Way of the Champion,' Paul Rabil shares lessons on becoming a true champion through determination, strategy, and resilience. Drawing from his own experiences and insights from icons like Steph Curry and Sue Bird, Rabil provides a blueprint for success that transcends sports and applies to various aspects of life. The book is divided into stages of development, from amateur to professional and beyond, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and learning from setbacks.

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Character

Robert McKee

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The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a spiritual conversion narrative that outlines Malcolm X's philosophy of black pride, black nationalism, and pan-Africanism. The book, based on over 50 in-depth interviews conducted by Alex Haley between 1963 and Malcolm X's assassination in 1965, covers Malcolm's childhood, his young adulthood in Boston and New York City, his involvement in organized crime, his prison sentence, and his subsequent involvement with the Nation of Islam. It also details his disillusionment with the Nation of Islam, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his travels in Africa. The book is known for its candid and introspective narrative, offering a personal and historical perspective on the civil rights era and the life of one of its most influential figures.

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So Good They Can't Ignore You

Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

Cal Newport

In this book, Cal Newport challenges the conventional wisdom that following one's passion is the key to career happiness. Instead, he argues that passion often follows mastery and that developing valuable skills and expertise is essential for creating work you love. Newport presents four rules: Don't follow your passion, Be so good they can't ignore you, Turn down a promotion, and Think small, act big. He supports his arguments with case studies from various professionals who have found satisfaction in their careers through hard work and skill development.

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Mastery

Robert Greene

In 'Mastery', Robert Greene argues that mastery is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through a rigorous process. The book outlines several key stages: finding your life's task, undergoing an ideal apprenticeship, finding the right mentor, acquiring social intelligence, and fusing intuitive with rational thinking. Greene draws on the lives of historical and contemporary masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Temple Grandin to illustrate his points. He emphasizes the importance of deep practice, self-directed learning, and the ability to read and navigate social dynamics. The book challenges the conventional notion of genius as a genetic gift and offers practical steps for anyone to achieve mastery in their chosen field.

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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

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The Moviegoer

Walker Percy

Walker Percy's "The Moviegoer" is a philosophical novel that explores themes of alienation, meaning, and the search for authenticity in modern society. The story follows Binx Bolling, a young stockbroker in New Orleans, as he grapples with existential questions and the search for meaning in his life. Percy's writing is characterized by its wit, intelligence, and insightful exploration of human nature. The novel blends elements of Southern Gothic and existentialism, creating a unique and thought-provoking narrative. It's a story about finding one's place in the world and the challenges of living a meaningful life.

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• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Burning the Days

Recollection

James Salter

Burning the Days is a memoir that captures James Salter's life journey, from his early days as a fighter pilot in the Korean War to his later career as a writer in New York and Europe. The book is a poignant reflection on identity, love, and the search for meaning, featuring vivid portraits of influential figures like Irwin Shaw and Robert Redford.

Great leaders don’t just build winning teams, they build people who can go on to lead without them. In today’s episode, Ryan talks about the idea of “growing a coaching tree” and what it means to create a culture that outlasts you. Using the San Antonio Spurs as a real-life example, Ryan looks at how the best leaders teach, empower, and develop others, not just for their own success, but for the success of everyone who comes next.

📚 Ryan's recommendations:

Burning The Days
Man’s Search for Meaning
Meditations - Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays Translation)
How To Be A Leader
On Character
The Way of the Champion
Letters to a Young Athlete
Moviegoer
Mastery

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