Stanford University has appointed Tavita Pritchard as the new head football coach for the Cardinal, a significant move announced on the afternoon of November 24, 2023. Pritchard, a former standout quarterback for Stanford, takes the helm just before the team concludes its season with a home game against No. 9 Notre Dame. He succeeds Frank Reich, the former NFL coach who served as interim head coach following the dismissal of Troy Taylor amid off-field issues.
The Cardinal, currently with a record of 4-7, marks its highest win total in five seasons. Following the announcement, the university confirmed that Reich will transition to the role of senior advisor to Pritchard, providing continuity as the program undergoes this leadership change.
Pritchard’s Legacy and Experience
At just 38 years old, Pritchard becomes the 37th head coach in Stanford football history. A graduate of Stanford in 2009, he has spent the last three seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders. His tenure at Washington included mentoring notable quarterbacks such as Jayden Daniels and Sam Howell. Pritchard will officially begin his role at Stanford after the Commanders’ game against the Denver Broncos on November 26, 2023. His introduction as head coach is scheduled for a press conference on November 28.
Pritchard first etched his name into Stanford’s history on October 6, 2007, when he led the team to a stunning 24-23 victory over No. 2 USC. Entering that game as a 41-point underdog, he finished with a game-winning touchdown pass to Mark Bradford in the final moments. This remarkable upset is still celebrated as one of the greatest in college football history.
Throughout his collegiate career, Pritchard appeared in 31 games, making 20 starts and throwing for 2,865 yards and 15 touchdowns. His final game for Stanford was the 2009 Sun Bowl, where he stepped in for an injured Andrew Luck, completing 8 of 19 passes for 118 yards in a narrow 31-27 loss to Oklahoma.
Vision for the Future
In a statement released by Stanford, Andrew Luck, Stanford’s general manager and Pritchard’s former teammate, expressed enthusiasm about the new appointment. “Winning in college football today requires a leader who can build and motivate teams, recruit future stars, and develop talent,” Luck said. “Tavita Pritchard is exactly the right head coach at the right time to help us build on the foundation of this season and lead Stanford football into its next great era.”
Pritchard himself expressed gratitude for the opportunity to return to Stanford, stating, “Stanford is a place like no other, and my family and I are full of gratitude to be returning home in every sense of the word. I have a clear vision of the hard work, brotherhood, and tenacity it will take to build a championship Stanford football program.”
His former colleagues have shown strong support for his appointment. Dan Quinn, head coach of the Commanders, remarked, “Tavita will be a fantastic head coach, and I believe he will be especially effective at Stanford. Players gravitate to him, and he quickly earned their respect and mine.”
Reich also shared his support, stating, “I am so grateful to have served as interim coach at Stanford. I believe Tavita is the perfect builder to help continue Stanford’s mission of success. I am proud to continue to work closely with Stanford Football and eager to support Tavita in every way.”
Pritchard’s extensive background at Stanford, where he served in various coaching roles including as offensive coordinator, positions him well to lead the Cardinal into a new chapter. Stanford football has not participated in a bowl game since 2018, ending a streak of ten consecutive appearances that began with the 2009 Sun Bowl season.
As the Cardinal look to rebuild and reinvigorate their program, all eyes will be on Pritchard to see how he will harness his experience and connection to Stanford to inspire the next generation of student-athletes.
