[82lsju]

Stanford hires Tavita Pritchard: Grade C
(Hired Nov. 28)

Stanford got someone who most certainly knows Stanford. Pritchard was in Palo Alto from 2006 to 2022, first as a quarterback and then as an assistant. Pritchard also did a good job working with Jayden Daniels as the Washington Commanders’ quarterbacks coach. Stanford is a uniquely difficult job, so knowledge of the landscape is important, but Pritchard has been out of college football for the last three years as it has undergone big changes, and Stanford has been hurt as much as any school by those changes. Does he know how to navigate this?

Pritchard likely wasn’t going to become a head coach anywhere other than at Stanford right now. That usually doesn’t bode well. But with Andrew Luck running the show, a new $50 million donation into the football program and now Pritchard taking over, Stanford is doubling down on itself.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6827060...newsletter

[82lsju]

Stanford hires Tavita Pritchard: Grade C
(Hired Nov. 28)

Stanford got someone who most certainly knows Stanford. Pritchard was in Palo Alto from 2006 to 2022, first as a quarterback and then as an assistant. Pritchard also did a good job working with Jayden Daniels as the Washington Commanders’ quarterbacks coach. Stanford is a uniquely difficult job, so knowledge of the landscape is important, but Pritchard has been out of college football for the last three years as it has undergone big changes, and Stanford has been hurt as much as any school by those changes. Does he know how to navigate this?

Pritchard likely wasn’t going to become a head coach anywhere other than at Stanford right now. That usually doesn’t bode well. But with Andrew Luck running the show, a new $50 million donation into the football program and now Pritchard taking over, Stanford is doubling down on itself.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6827060...newsletter