Built to Win: Culture, Leadership, and the Relentless Pursuit of Greatness with Coach David Saur
About this Episode
What does it take to transform a struggling team into a championship program?
In this episode of Queen Me!, Ashley sits down with David Saur, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Chatham University, to discuss how strong leadership, intentional culture, and a relentless commitment to excellence can change the trajectory of an entire organization.
When Coach Saur took over Chatham’s women’s basketball program in 2018, the team had not experienced a winning season in nearly 40 years. Since then, he has helped lead the program to historic winning seasons, a conference championship, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Coach Saur shares how he built a staff aligned around a shared vision, earned the trust of players who were ready for change, and created a culture where every person understands the importance of their role. He also explains why talent alone does not create greatness and how obsession, leadership, adaptability, and the willingness to contribute beyond the spotlight separate strong performers from elite ones.
Together, Ashley and Coach Saur explore recruiting, player development, navigating different levels of collegiate athletics, and the importance of persistence when building a career in sports. Coach Saur also reflects on the cold call that led to a 15-year mentorship and why aspiring professionals cannot be afraid to put themselves in the room.
This episode is for athletes, coaches, leaders, and anyone working to build a winning culture while remaining authentically themselves.
They talk about
Transforming a historically struggling program into a conference champion
How Coach Saur built a serious and competitive culture at Chatham
Why hiring people who believe in the same vision comes first
The role upperclassmen played in establishing a new standard
Adjusting from Division I athletics to Division III
Why creativity matters in recruiting and player development
The rare qualities that separate professional athletes from talented players
Why greatness often requires an obsessive commitment to improvement
Recruiting athletes who understand leadership and role acceptance
How experience on winning teams shapes stronger teammates
Why every person’s role matters to the success of a program
Breaking into the sports industry through networking and persistence
How one cold call created a 15-year mentorship
Building confidence through preparation and relentless work
Unleashing your inner queen by showing up as your authentic self
Show Notes
Transforming a Program Starts with People: When Coach Saur arrived at Chatham, he understood that changing the program would require more than new strategies or stronger recruiting. It began with hiring staff members who believed in the same vision and building trust with players who were ready to establish a new standard.
Culture Is Built Through Daily Expectations: Winning culture does not appear after a championship. It is developed through the expectations, habits, and decisions a team reinforces every day. Coach Saur discusses how taking the program seriously helped players begin to see what was possible.
Leadership Requires Adaptability: Moving from Division I to Division III required Coach Saur to adjust his approach to recruiting, scheduling, and player development. He shares how effective leaders must understand their environment without lowering their expectations for excellence.
Talent Alone Does Not Create Greatness: Many athletes have talent, but Coach Saur believes the rarest performers possess an almost relentless obsession with improving. They refuse to be limited by rejection, setbacks, or the expectations others place on them.
Every Role Contributes to Winning: A championship team cannot be built solely around its stars. Coach Saur prioritizes athletes who understand how to lead, contribute, and accept roles that may not always place them in the spotlight.
Recruit People Who Understand Team Success: Players who come from winning programs often understand that success requires sacrifice and complementary roles. That experience can build empathy, accountability, and stronger leadership among teammates.
Put Yourself in the Room: For those hoping to build careers in sports, Coach Saur’s advice is direct: reach out. Send the email, make the call, and introduce yourself. One cold call he made in college led to a mentorship that has shaped his career for more than 15 years.
Persistence Creates Opportunity: Opportunities do not always arrive through traditional applications or perfectly planned career paths. Coach Saur explains why persistence, relationship-building, and the willingness to hear “no” are essential for breaking into competitive industries.
Confidence Comes from the Work: Authenticity and confidence are not about fitting a predetermined leadership mold. Coach Saur believes confidence is earned by preparing, working relentlessly, and knowing you have done what is necessary to move forward.
Unleashing Your Inner Queen: For Coach Saur, unleashing your inner queen means having the confidence to be authentically yourself every day. It means refusing to become a cookie-cutter version of someone else and allowing your work, preparation, and belief in yourself to guide your leadership.
Guest Appearing in This Episode
David Saur: Head women’s basketball coach at Chatham University, where he has helped transform the program into a conference champion and NCAA Tournament team. Coach Saur is passionate about culture-building, player development, leadership, and creating opportunities for athletes to achieve at the highest level.
Know an athlete, coach, aspiring sports professional, or leader working to build a stronger culture? Share this episode. It’s an honest conversation about transformation, persistence, role acceptance, and what it truly takes to build something that wins.
