Stanford football stunner: Head coach David Shaw steps down, search for replacement to begin

David Shaw, the winningest coach in Stanford history and a two-time Rose Bowl winner, announced following the season finale that he is stepping down from his position, effective immediately.

Shaw, who coached the likes of Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey and was named the 2017 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, produced a 96-54 record in 12 seasons in charge of his alma mater.

“After many prayers and multiple discussions with my wife, one phrase keeps coming to me – it’s time,” Shaw said in a statement released by the school late Saturday night following a 35-26 loss to Brigham Young.

“There are not sufficient words to describe the love and gratitude I feel for my family, all of my former and current players, my staff, this administration and the entire Stanford family. Thank you all.”

Shaw took over for Jim Harbaugh in 2011 and won three conference titles in his first five seasons (2012, 2013 and 2015) and was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year four times.

But the program has regressed dramatically in recent years, posting 3-9 records in each of the past two seasons. It hasn’t won a game in November since the fall of 2020.

The Cardinal lost its edge at the line of scrimmage, recruited poorly and struggled to keep pace in a drastically changing landscape with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness.

Athletic director Bernard Muir will begin a search for Shaw’s successor.

“I would like to thank David for his immense contributions to Stanford,” Muir said. “David has represented Stanford football, as both a player and a coach, with unwavering grace, humility and integrity. He has cared tremendously for each and every student-athlete in his program while helping them pursue their full academic and athletic potential.

“David will forever remain a valued member of the Stanford football family and an integral part of the storied history of the program. I hope Cardinal fans everywhere will join me in thanking David and his family for their extraordinary years of service and wishing them all the best in their next chapter.”