Stanford turned to one of its own Friday, hiring Tavita Pritchard as the school’s next head football coach, the university announced.
Pritchard returns to the Farm after a decorated tenure as a cardinal quarterback and 12 years as an assistant coach and coordinator at his alma mater. He served on Stanford’s staff from 2010 to 2022, beginning as a graduate assistant before becoming the program’s quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator.
He left campus in 2023 to join the Washington Commanders as the NFL club’s quarterbacks coach, and he has received permission to depart for Stanford following Washington’s game at Denver on Sunday night.
The search was managed by general manager Andrew Luck and included input from new athletic director John Donahoe, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Stanford president Jonathan Levin. More than 30 candidates were vetted, with the pool drawing interest from both the college and NFL ranks.
“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 to its next great era,” Luck said. “Coach Pritchard is a culture builder, a teacher of football of the highest caliber, and a humble yet determined servant leader who is committed to the success of Stanford’s student-athletes.”
While Pritchard may be a favorite, Andrew Luck’s fired head coaching hire lacks substance, especially in a new era of college athletics.
Pritchard replaces interim coach Frank Reich, who led Stanford to its first win over rival Cal since 2019 last week, snapping a four-year losing streak. The Cardinal (4-7) host No. 9 Notre Dame in Saturday’s season finale.
The hire comes at a program inflection point. Stanford has not logged a winning season since 2020 and last played in a bowl game in 2018. Pritchard brings recent NFL seasoning, notably coaching Jayden Daniels during his Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl season in 2024.
