The Stanford Cardinal has appointed Tavita Pritchard as its new head football coach, marking a significant return for a player who once led the team to one of its most remarkable victories nearly two decades ago. The announcement was made on Friday afternoon, just before the Cardinal’s season finale against No. 9 Notre Dame. Pritchard will take over from Frank Reich, who stepped in as interim head coach after the dismissal of Troy Taylor amid off-field controversies.
Pritchard, a 38-year-old Stanford alumnus, becomes the 37th head coach in the program’s history. Currently serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders, he will transition to his new role following the Commanders’ game against Denver on Sunday. His formal introduction is scheduled for a news conference on Tuesday.
In a statement, Andrew Luck, Stanford’s general manager, emphasized the qualities that Pritchard brings to the role, stating, “Winning in college football today requires a leader of men who can build and motivate teams, recruit future stars, and develop and connect with talent.” Luck expressed confidence in Pritchard as the right choice to guide Stanford football into a promising new era.
Pritchard is well-versed in the Stanford football culture, having made his mark as a player during a historic upset in 2007. On October 6 of that year, he stepped in as a starter due to an injury to senior quarterback T.C. Ostrander and led the Cardinal to a stunning 24-23 victory over the second-ranked USC Trojans. The game remains one of the biggest upsets in college football history, with Pritchard sealing the win with a critical touchdown pass in the final moments.
He played a total of 31 games for Stanford, making 20 starts and recording 2,865 yards and 15 touchdowns during his collegiate career. His final appearance came in the 2009 Sun Bowl, where he filled in for an injured Luck in a close loss to Oklahoma.
Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Pritchard stated, “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.” He outlined his vision for building a championship-caliber program, emphasizing the importance of hard work and teamwork in achieving excellence both on and off the field.
Pritchard’s coaching experience includes three seasons as quarterbacks coach with the Commanders, where he mentored players such as Jayden Daniels, Jacoby Brissett, and Sam Howell. Under his guidance, the Commanders reached the 2024 NFC Championship Game. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn praised Pritchard’s leadership qualities, stating, “Players gravitate to him, and he quickly earned their respect and mine.”
Reich, who served as interim coach for the season, expressed his commitment to supporting Pritchard in his new role. Stanford has not participated in a bowl game since 2018, marking a notable decline for a program that enjoyed ten consecutive bowl appearances starting with the 2009 Sun Bowl.
“I am so grateful to have served as interim coach at Stanford,” Reich remarked. “I believe Tavita is the perfect builder to help continue Stanford’s mission of success.”
Before his tenure in the NFL, Pritchard enjoyed a robust coaching career at Stanford, starting as a graduate assistant in 2010 and progressively taking on roles as a defensive assistant, running backs coach, and eventually offensive coordinator. His extensive experience at Stanford positions him uniquely to lead the program into its next chapter.
As the Cardinal prepares for a challenging future, Pritchard’s blend of familiarity with the university and recent professional experience may provide the foundation needed to restore the program’s prominence in college football.