Every leader has that one person on the team. The one showing up halfway. The one quietly setting the ceiling for everyone else. And most leaders tolerate it longer than they should.
Matt Crespino refused to. After taking over the Princeton men's swim team, he inherited what his assistant called an opt-in culture, where the committed thrived and the disengaged got to coast. Matt blew it up. He made the team write their own core values, told the roster it was all in or out, and just won his second straight Ivy League championship doing it.
In this conversation, Matt and BJ get into what it actually takes to raise the standard without losing your people. Why he had to coach against his own instincts to let the team have fun. How relationship building, not X's and O's, is the real work. And why the best coaches are the last line of defense for what sports are supposed to teach. If you lead anything, a team, a company, a family, this one is going to hit.
Topics discussed:
00:00 - Why your least committed person sets the ceiling
01:00 - Launching the Friendly Strife Foundation segment
07:00 - Coaching at West Point in the shadow of war
10:00 - Realizing the job is bigger than coaching swimming
13:00 - Why sports is the most powerful leadership classroom
17:00 - Recruiting for culture not just talent
18:00 - Shifting Princeton from opt-in to all-in
20:00 - The five core values the team built together
24:00 - Why fun became their unlock for winning
26:00 - Coaching against your own instincts
27:00 - Trust and inspire over command and control
30:00 - How NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping coaching
32:00 - Why failure has to be a safe place to land
37:00 - Why they will not come to you if you have not built the relationship
43:00 - The legacy of a coach who cared
Connect with Matt Crispino:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mattcrispino/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-crispino-a26b5239/
What is Leadership Blueprints?
Leadership Blueprints is a podcast dedicated to helping leaders align teams, navigate chaos, and accomplish the mission. Hosted by BJ Kraemer—West Point graduate, combat veteran, and President & CEO of MCFA—this show dives into the principles, stories, and strategies behind effective leadership.
With a background in military service and experience leading teams in business, infrastructure, and complex projects, BJ understands that success comes down to execution, adaptability, and leading people well. Through in-depth interviews with accomplished leaders across business, sports, the military, and beyond, Leadership Blueprints will help you bring your vision to reality on projects that shape communities and industries.
Whether you’re leading in the boardroom, on the field, in the military, or within your own organization, this podcast is designed to provide the tools and mindset needed to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Subscribe now and start building your Leadership Blueprint.