In college football, returning former players to their alma mater as head coaches is a dream for most. However, the school the player left is often different than how they left it. With the transfer portal, NIL, and higher expectations, Power 5 schools are changing. When Andrew Luck returned to Stanford to run the football program, he looked to the program’s past for help.
Stanford GM Andrew Luck Opens Up About Faith in New HC Tavita Pritchard
After joining the ACC as a full-time member, the school turned to one of its most famous football alums to oversee the program in 2024. Luck retired from the NFL in 2019. He and Stanford hired former Cardinal alum Tavita Pritchard to become the new head coach last November.
Critics questioned the hire, citing a lack of head coaching experience. Luck sat down with “The Audible” to discuss the move and his reasoning, discussing whether he has a strong belief in Pritchard’s readiness.
“I’ve got an incredible amount of faith in Tavita,” he said. “A couple months on the job now has proven it. Man, he’s hitting all the right notes. Tevita, his history here cuts both ways. It’s an amazing thing, and it’s also, if you’re someplace too long, perhaps you miss out on what’s going on.”
Pritchard worked for the program from 2010 to 2022. He started as a graduate assistant and worked his way up to offensive coordinator. The former starting quarterback left the program in 2023 to take a job with the Washington Commanders. Many credit Pritchard with Jayden Daniels’ excellent rookie season, which culminated in an NFC Championship Game appearance.
Luck also credited Pritchard’s growth as a coach to his experience working under two coaches with Super Bowl backgrounds.
“So certainly, his time with the Commanders under Ron Rivera, you know, who’s across the bay, and then also under DQ (Dan Quinn) the past couple of years was quite formative.”
For Pritchard, obstacles lie ahead as he attempts to turn Stanford into a winner. First, playing in the ACC means cross-country trips that are not just time-consuming but could also fatigue players. Stanford also maintains one of the lowest admission rates in the NCAA, regardless of division, and athletes must abide by strict standards.
Those factors narrow the player pool and affect the transfer portal and recruitment. According to 247Sports, the Cardinal ranked No. 52 in their combined rankings. The program landed six recruits and six transfers.
Pritchard, the former signal caller, will need to elevate an offense that struggled last year. Stanford ranked No. 88 in PFSN’s CFB Offense Impact Metric, which measures production and efficiency.
The new coach will need to silence doubters early, and the schedule may not help. Stanford starts its season with five consecutive games against 2025 bowl teams, followed by Notre Dame the following week.
