College Football: 8 Coaching Candidates to Replace Troy Taylor at Stanford

Stanford fired coach Troy Taylor after two years in charge on Tuesday. Although Taylor was 6-18 with the Cardinal, his firing was not a result of the on-field product. Instead, Taylor's dismissal comes a week after an ESPN report of investigations into the 56-year-old coach and his treatment and bullying of staffers in the program. "After continued consideration it is evident to me that our program needs a reset," Stanford general manager Andrew Luck said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Hiring a head coach in late March isn't easy for any program with a second transfer portal window opening on April 16, as well as the start of spring practice. Luck could opt to conduct a full national search for '25 or play the upcoming year with an interim coach.

If Stanford intends to hire a new full-time coach, who could replace Taylor at Stanford? Here are a few names to watch in the search:

Stanford Football: 8 Coaching Candidates to Replace Troy Taylor

Dave Clawson, Former Head Coach, Wake Forest
Clawson is a longshot mention on this list. After going 67-69 at Wake Forest from 2014-24, Clawson opted to step down following the '24 season. However, his experience in winning at a program with a comparable challenge to Stanford could be appealing in this search. Clawson now works as a special advisor to the vice president and director of athletics at Wake Forest.

Troy Calhoun, Head Coach, Air Force
Calhoun is a former Air Force quarterback and has directed his alma mater since '07. Considering his extensive ties to the Academy, leaving for another job isn't guaranteed. However, considering Calhoun's track record of navigating a tough job and a high level of success, Stanford would be wise to inquire about any interest. Calhoun is 135-89 with the Falcons, including five double-digit win seasons. Air Force won 11 games and finished No. 22 nationally in '19.

Jason Garrett, Former Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
Garrett was a candidate and interviewed for this job prior to Taylor's hire after the '22 season. As a former Princeton quarterback, Garrett certainly understands the academic challenges Stanford has to navigate. However, his last stint as a head coach in Dallas ended with a 85-67 mark, and his next opportunity as the Giants' offensive coordinator ended in his dismissal in '21.

Pep Hamilton, Offensive Coordinator, Maryland
Hamilton has a wealth of experience as an assistant coach, including a stint from 2010-12 at Stanford. Since that three-year run, Hamilton has spent the bulk of his time in the NFL and also worked as the head coach as the DC Defenders in the XFL in '20. Hamilton was named Maryland's offensive coordinator this offseason, but his background in working with Luck at Stanford (and in the NFL with the Colts) places him squarely on the radar in this search.

Jeff Monken, Head Coach, Army
Monken's name has popped up in searches for power conference teams in previous seasons, so it's only a matter of time before the Illinois native gets a chance at a high-profile job. Since taking over in West Point in '14, the Black Knights are 82-57 under Monken. Army has posted three double-digit win totals under his watch, including a 12-2 mark and American Athletic Conference title in '24.

Ken Niumatalolo, Head Coach, San Jose State
Niumataolo was surprisingly dismissed after going 109-83 at Navy after the '22 season. However, the Hawaii native is off to a strong start in his second act, going 7-6 at San Jose State last year. In addition to his on-field success, Niumatalolo has showed a willingness to adapt to different styles. After running the option at Navy, he shifted to run a spread attack at San Jose State.

Tavita Pritchard, Quarterbacks Coach, Washington Commanders
Pritchard played at Stanford from 2006-09 and later worked in Palo Alto on the staff from 2010-22. The Washington native worked as the Commanders' quarterback coach over the last two seasons and was instrumental in molding Jayden Daniels during a standout '24 campaign capped by winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors . Pritchard has no collegiate head-coaching experience. However, he has numerous ties to the program.

Troy Walters, Wide Receivers Coach, Cincinnati Bengals
Walters played at Stanford from 1996-99 and worked as an assistant in the collegiate ranks from 2009-19. Included in that run were stops at Texas A&M, NC State, Colorado, and Nebraska. Walters took a job with the Bengals in '20 and was promoted to wide receivers coach in '21. He has no head-coaching experience.

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