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Stanford football tapped a familiar face to become its next head coach.
The school announced Friday that it has hired Tavita Pritchard, who played quarterback at Stanford from 2006 to 2009, as its next head coach. Currently a 38 year old man Washington commanders defensive backs coach and will begin his duties as head coach immediately following the team's game against the Denver Broncos.
Pritchard will replace interim head coach Frank Reich, who replaced Troy Taylor in the spring after Taylor was fired over allegations of bullying and demeaning staff.
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Washington Commanders defensive backs coach Tavita Pritchard watches her players before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California, December 17, 2023. (Kusung Gon/AP Photo, file)
Pritchard was hired by the man who replaced him as quarterback at Stanford: Andrey Lak. Luck, the school's CEO, said Pritchard is the man to lead Stanford into its next great era.
“Victory in college football What we need today is a male leader who can build and motivate teams, recruit future stars, and develop and communicate with talent,” Luck said in a statement.
“Tavita Pritchard is exactly the right head coach at the right time to help us build the foundation for this season and lead Stanford football into the next great era. Coach Pritchard is a culture builder, a football teacher of the highest caliber, and a humble but determined servant leader who is committed to the success of Stanford student-athletes.”
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Stanford Cardinal guard Tavita Pritchard (14) takes a photo during a 23-20 loss to the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on October 18, 2008. (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports)
“I am thrilled to welcome Tavita, Caroline and their family back to campus.”
Pritchard began his coaching career in 2010 at Stanford as a graduate assistant and rose through the ranks to become the team's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2022 before heading to the NFL.
Pritchard's short stay in NFL was impressive as Commanders head coach Dan Quinn spoke highly of his former assistant.
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“Tavita will be a fantastic head coach and I believe he will be particularly effective at Stanford. Players are drawn to him and he has quickly earned their and my respect,” Quinn said in a statement.
“Tavita is smart, collaborative, diligent and brings people together. He is the ideal coach to build a winning program in today's college football world.”
Pritchard will be tasked with improving a team that is 4-7 this season and hasn't won more than four wins in a season since 2018, when it went 9-4.
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