STANFORD, California. Tavita Pritchard has been named director of football for Stanford's Bradford M. Freeman, as announced Friday by general manager Andrew Luck.
The 37th head coach in program history, Pritchard, a 2009 Stanford graduate, currently serves as the Washington Commanders' quarterbacks coach and will begin in his role immediately following the Commanders' Nov. 30 game against Denver. Pritchard will be introduced at a press conference on Tuesday.
To win in college football today you need a leader of men who can build and motivate teams, recruit future stars and develop and connect talent, Luck said. Tavita Pritchard is exactly the right head coach at the right time to help us build on this season's foundation 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 yet determined servant leader committed to the success of Stanford's student-athletes. I couldn't be more excited to welcome Tavita, Caroline and their family back to campus.
"Stanford is a place like no other and my family and I are filled with gratitude to be able to return home in every sense of the word," Pritchard said. I have a clear vision of the hard work, brotherhood and tenacity it will take to build a championship football program at Stanford. I can't wait to work with Andrew and work with the best student-athletes in the world to achieve excellence both on and off the field.
Pritchard is completing his third season as the Commanders' quarterbacks coach, having coached Jayden Daniels, Jacoby Brissett, Sam Howell and Marcus Mariota. During his tenure at Washington, Pritchard was instrumental in the development of the Commanders offense, culminating in an appearance in the 2024 NFC Championship Game. Pritchard returns to The Farm in the spirit of Stanford's rich legacy of NFL coaching talent, including Bill Walsh, Denny Green, Jim Harbaugh, David Shaw and Vic Fangio.
Pritchard guided Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, through one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NFL history in 2024, as Daniels was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, qualified for the Pro Bowl and set multiple records in his debut. Daniels, who totaled 3,568 yards, 25 passing touchdowns and a 69.0 percent completion percentage, finished the season with a total of 31 touchdowns, which ranks third all-time for a rookie quarterback in NFL history.
Tavita will be a fantastic head coach, and I believe he will be especially effective at Stanford, said Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who is in his second season with the organization. Players were drawn to him and he quickly earned their respect and mine. Tavita is smart, collaborative, diligent and he brings people together. He is the perfect coach to build a winning program in today's college football landscape.
If I had a son who played college football, I would want him to play for Tavita Pritchard, said Kliff Kingsbury, Commander's offensive coordinator. Tavita has a unique ability to build relationships, and I have never seen a quarterback room as tight and unified as the one he has formed.
"I'm playing the best football of my career, and Tavita is helping make that possible," Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota said. His weekly process and preparation are elite. Tavita understands exactly what each team member needs and he gives us confidence. Tavita's bond with players is second to none, and his behavior sets the tone. He lets you play for free and genuinely wants players to be the best versions of themselves.
Pritchard replaces Frank Reich, who led Stanford to its highest win total in five seasons, as interim head coach in 2025. Reich, who combined a 14-year playing career as an NFL quarterback with 18 seasons in various coaching roles, will remain a senior advisor to Pritchard going forward.
"I am so grateful to have served as interim coach at Stanford," said Reich, who served on a total of six Super Bowl teams as a coach or player. I believe Tavita is the perfect builder to continue Stanford's mission of success. I am proud to continue working closely with Stanford Football and am eager to support Tavita in any way I can.
Prior to the NFL, Pritchard played quarterback at Stanford from 2006 to 2009, where he played in 31 games and made 20 starts, throwing for 2,865 yards and 15 touchdowns. Pritchard made his first career start on October 6, 2007 against USC, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in college football history with a 24-23 victory over No. 2 USC when the Cardinal were a 41-point underdog. Pritchard's game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bradford on fourth down with 49 seconds left in regulation secured his place in Stanford football history.
After graduating, Pritchard began a lengthy coaching career with the Cardinal, serving in various roles during a stretch that included 10 consecutive bowl games, nine consecutive Big Game wins and appearances in three Rose Bowls (2013-14, 2016), Fiesta Bowl (2012) and Orange Bowl (2011). After joining the staff as a graduate assistant in 2010, Pritchard served as a defensive assistant (2011-12) and running backs coach (2013).
Pritchard was promoted to the role of quarterbacks/wide receivers coach in 2014-17, coaching quarterback Kevin Hogan as the Cardinal finished the season with dominant wins over USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game and Iowa in the Rose Bowl. From 2018 to 2022, Pritchard was elevated to Andrew Luck Director of Offense and Kevin M. Hogan Quarterbacks Coach.
Getting the opportunity to work with Tavita again in Washington has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my career, said Commanders tight end and Stanford's 2012 unanimous first-team All-American Zach Ertz. I have seen firsthand how much Tavita has grown since we were together at Stanford as a coach, as a leader and as a person. He connects with players at every level and brings out the best in everyone around him. I have every confidence that he and Andrew will build a Stanford football program that every former player, every alum and the entire Stanford community will be incredibly proud of.
The selection of Pritchard as head coach of the Cardinals is the latest in a series of important steps to help launch a new era of winning players. Stanford University President Jonathan Levin named Luck general manager of the program on November 30, 2024, and Luck has already helped raise more than $100 million, anchored by a generous $50 million gift from football alumnus Bradford M. Freeman 64.
Tavita Pritchard is the next important piece in our comprehensive effort to return Stanford football to a winning tradition, said Stanford's Jaquish & Kenninger President and Chairman of Athletics John Donahoe, who began his term on September 8, 2025, after serving as the former CEO of NIKE, eBay and ServiceNow. Tavita is an exceptional leader and his appointment, combined with the strong fundraising success we are experiencing, will help lay the foundation for our success and leadership in football.
A native of Tacoma, Washington, Pritchard earned a communications degree from Stanford. He and his wife, Caroline, met during their college years and have four children, three of whom were born at Stanford Hospital.