Spurs Sports & Entertainment made a massive move for its future, announcing on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the hiring of Charles Harris Jr. as its new vice president of technology. This isn’t just some run-of-the-mill hire either, folks. Harris is jumping ship from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was their VP of information technology, to lead SS&E’s entire tech game. Think about that: a top tech brain from a major NFL franchise is now heading to an NBA organization. That’s a huge statement about where the Spurs are looking to go.
From Bucs to Spurs: Harris’s Impressive Journey
This dude is seriously qualified. Harris isn’t just coming in off the street, he’s got a doctorate in modeling and simulation from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in science and technology from Purdue. Before his stint with the Buccaneers, which started in February 2023, he held senior tech leadership spots at Jubilant Radiopharma, where he was running tech across a multi-site healthcare organization throughout the U.S., and Inmarsat, a global satellite communications company. The man knows how to handle complex systems!
Harris himself posted on LinkedIn, saying he was “Grateful for my time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and for the people and relationships that were a part of that journey.” But then he dropped the real news: “I’m excited for what comes next with the San Antonio Spurs, starting in October.” He clearly sees something special brewing, adding that the “Spurs have deep roots in the community and an exciting vision for the future.” You can practically feel his energy when he talks about “listening, learning and helping shape what comes next through technology and innovation that create meaningful experiences for our fans and the San Antonio community.” This isn’t just a job for him, it sounds like a mission.
What This Means for Fan Experience and the New Arena
So, what exactly is Harris going to be doing in San Antonio? Pretty much everything tech-related. SS&E announced he’ll lead their enterprise technology strategy and operations across all their teams, venues, and business functions. We’re talking infrastructure, cybersecurity, venue tech, ticketing systems, and those crucial fan-facing digital experiences. Remember that new downtown arena project the Spurs are working on? Harris will also provide strategic oversight for all the technology components there.
R.C. Buford, a big shot at SS&E, totally gets why this hire is such a big deal. He said, “Charles has spent his career overseeing the technology and systems that help organizations operate, grow and adapt, and we’re excited to welcome him to SS&E.” Buford emphasized that Harris’s “expertise will help us continue creating seamless and engaging experiences for fans across our teams and venues.” That’s the key right there, right? Modernizing SS&E’s tech ecosystem, powering games and concerts, and advancing things like ticketing operations, digital entry, mobile and fan experiences, loyalty platforms, and in-arena engagement. Harris himself summed it up perfectly: “The best technology creates possibilities for people.”
Starting in October, Charles Harris Jr. is going to be a force in San Antonio. This hire is setting up a whole new level of fan interaction and operational efficiency for the Spurs organization. If you’re a Spurs fan, or honestly, just a fan of sports tech, you’ll want to keep a close eye on what unfolds with SS&E as Harris takes the reins. It’s going to be wild to see what kind of possibilities he creates!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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