R.C. Buford

R.C. was named CEO of Spurs Sports and Entertainment in July of 2019. In his current role, he leads the business operations for all sports franchises owned and operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment which includes the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), the Austin Spurs (NBA G-League), and San Antonio FC (USL Soccer) as well as the operations of the AT&T Center and Toyota Field.

Prior to being named CEO Buford held the role of president of sports franchises from 2008-19. He served as the general manager of the Spurs while overseeing the sports administration for the other teams in the SS&E family. He has twice been named the NBA’s executive of the Year in 2014 and 2016.

R.C. started his professional career as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas in 1983. During each of his five seasons at Kansas, the Jayhawks participated in the NCAA Tournament. Buford was on the coaching staff for the team that won the 1988 NCAA Championship as well as the 1985–86 squad that advanced to the Final Four.

In the summer of 1988 R.C. made the move to the NBA joining the Spurs as an assistant coach on Larry Brown’s staff (other assistants on that staff included Gregg Popovich, Alvin Gentry, and Ed Manning). He spent four seasons as an assistant with the Spurs, helping win back-to-back Midwest Division Titles (1990 and 1991). In the summer of 1992, Buford joined the Los Angeles Clippers as the first assistant for Coach Brown (the Clippers earned a spot in the 1993 Playoffs). He later served as an assistant coach at the University of Florida during the 1993-94 season (the team advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history).

In the Summer of 1994, R.C. returned to San Antonio (hired by Gregg Popovich) as the team’s head scout. In the summer of 1997, he was elevated to Spurs director of scouting and was eventually promoted to vice president/assistant general manager in the summer of 1999. In 2002 was named the Spurs' general manager.

R.C.’s collegiate experience included playing basketball at Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State before receiving his degree from Friends University. He is involved in the NBA Basketball Without Borders Africa Camp and in 2015, he became an advisory board member for Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) at Duke University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of PeacePlayers International.