Brian Smith, Head Wrestling Coach, University of Missouri

Welcome back to the RU Strong Podcast, where we spotlight the mindset, mission, and momentum behind elite athletes and coaches who lead with grit, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of greatness.

I’m your host, Jeff Durr, and today’s guest isnot only one of the most respected wrestling minds in the country but also a master communicator, transformational leader, and author of the powerful book Tiger Style. We’re honored to welcome Brian Smith, the Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Missouri.

Coach Smith is a coach’s son who inherited notjust the love for the sport, but the responsibility of shaping young men into disciplined leaders, on the mat and in life. His passion for leadership is contagious, and his philosophy is built around purpose, preparation, and thepower of belief.

In recruiting, Coach Smith doesn't just lookfor athletes, he seeks elite students, great teammates, and high-character competitors who want to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. With him, there are no shortcuts. No excuses. Just standards.

He challenges his wrestlers to develop goodhabits, embrace failure as just a tough day, and finish each day with a positive thought. His “Take the Stairs”mentality means doing things the hard way, the right way, never cutting corners, never being late, always paying attention to the little things. Because details matter.

He reminds us: “One more rep. One more effort. One more moment to get better.”He teaches that leadership starts in your head, you must believe before you canachieve. And more than anything, he encourages his team to expect to win.

Today, we’ll dig into his story, his methods,and his message to athletes and coaches everywhere: To be great, it takes time. And it takes purpose-drivenleadership rooted in humility, discipline, and communication.

Let’sdive in. This is Coach Brian Smith and this is RU Strong.