Stanford fires head football coach Troy Taylor after bullying investigations

Stanford fired head football coach Troy Taylor after two seasons, the university announced Tuesday. The decision follows two investigations into Taylor’s conduct, which reportedly found he had bullied and belittled female athletic staffers, made inappropriate comments and attempted to have an NCAA compliance officer removed after she warned him of potential violations, according to ESPN. Taylor’s termination also comes after the team has struggled to produce wins over the last two years, finishing with back-to-back 3-9 records.

Hired in December 2022 after a successful stint at Sacramento State, Taylor inherited a program that had finished with an underwhelming three wins in longtime head coach David Shaw’s final two seasons. Tasked with reversing that trend, he was unable to surpass that win total, marking four consecutive seasons of 3-9 finishes for Stanford. His tenure also coincided with the program’s first season in the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC), a major transition that took effect before this past season.

This move marks the first major decision made by General Manager Andrew Luck since taking on the role last November. Luck framed the decision as part of a larger effort to reset the program’s direction.

“I took the role of Stanford Football General Manager with a strong vision for building a new winning era for our football program,” Luck said in a statement. “Stanford has always set the standard for excellence with our university’s unique leadership in both athletics and academics, and I have no doubt that our program’s best days lie ahead.”

Luck added that after extensive evaluation, he and university leadership determined that Taylor was no longer the right fit for the program.

“After continued consideration, it is evident to me that our program needs a reset,” Luck said. “In consultation with university leadership, I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football program. Coach Taylor has been informed today, and the change is effective immediately. A search for new coaching leadership has begun, and an acting coach may be named for the 2025 season.”

Despite this shakeup, Luck reiterated his focus on the long-term vision for the program.

“I thank Coach Taylor for his contributions to our team and the hard work he put into the program. I wish him and his family well moving forward,” Luck said. “We have powerful traditions, incredible student-athletes, and a vision for the future that demonstrates our strong potential as a program. This vision includes an emphasis on a positive, winning, and inclusive culture. I am confident that we will return Stanford to the top echelon of college football.”

Stanford has yet to announce an interim head coach. With the ACC transition now complete, the search for Taylor’s replacement will be closely watched as the program looks to re-establish itself in a new conference and regain national competitiveness.

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