Former Cal Star Troy Taylor Accepts Stanford Coaching Job
UPDATED
Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee has reported that former Cal star Troy Taylor has accepted the Stanford coaching job.
Troy Taylor
Stanford confirmed the hire later Saturday morning with this news release.
Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir on Taylor:
“I am excited to welcome Troy and his family to Stanford. Troy is a proven winner who has experienced success at many levels of football. Throughout our visits together he demonstrated an understanding of what makes Stanford special, and a deep desire to capitalize on our unique strengths. He possesses an incredible football mind and has a long history of caring deeply for the student-athletes he leads. I am excited for the next chapter of Cardinal football and eager for our student-athletes to experience Troy’s passion, wisdom and leadership.”
Taylor takes over a Stanford program that was elite for years under David Shaw before falling on hard times in recent seasons. The Cardinal is just 14-28 the past four years, with three losing seasons. Stanford was 3-9 this year.
Stanford has lost 16 players to the transfer portal since Shaw's announcement he was resigning and earlier this week quarterback Tanner McKee said he will enter the NFL Draft.
Stanford Athletics
Taylor said he is thrilled to take on the assignment.
“The opportunity to lead the finest student-athletes in the country is truly a dream come true," he said in a statement, "and I would like to thank President Tessier-Lavigne, Provost Drell and Bernard Muir. I believe that Stanford Football is perfectly positioned to become champions on the football field while maintaining our world-class reputation for academic excellence.”
Among those who served on the search committee are former Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck and Condoleezza Rice.
"Coach Taylor's energy and passion for football are infectious," said Luck, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this week. "He is a proven winner who loves coaching and developing his players on and off the field. His football acumen and ingenuity are impressive, and I can't wait to see what he accomplishes at Stanford."
“Troy’s track record as an innovative, winning football coach is remarkable and unique,” Rice added. “As we got to know him through the search process, it became apparent that his teams’ success on the field has stemmed not only from his schematic brilliance but also from his genuine passion for educating and developing young men holistically. I am thrilled to welcome Troy to the Stanford community.”
Taylor's final game at Sacramento State was an unforgettable one.
In a 66-63 loss to Incarnate Word of San Antonio in their FCS quarterfinal-round playoff game Friday night, Taylor’s Hornets ran up these remarkable numbers:
— They totaled 738 yards of offense
— Compiled 48 first downs
— Ran 109 plays
— Successfully pulled off two fourth-quarter onside kicks
— Came back three times from 11-point deficits
Why wouldn't the Cardinal be interested in a coach who can generate an offense that prolific?
Taylor, 54, who left Cal as the program all-time passing yardage leader, was considered the frontrunner to replace David Shaw at Stanford since Friday when former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett withdrew from the field.
Afterward Friday's game, Taylor chose not to publicly address speculation he could be leaving his hometown school to coach the rival of his alma mater.
“Tonight I’m just going to go home and go to sleep,” he said. “I’m just tired, emotionally and physically but grateful. I’m just going to take it a day at a time right now and focus on taking all this in and all the relationships . . . and then kind of deal with that (Saturday)."
Taylor compiled a remarkable 30-8 record in three seasons with the Hornets. They were 12-0 this season, winning their third straight Big Sky Conference title.
Sac State began the playoffs as the No. 2 overall seed, boasting a 12-0 record. In a game that featured 57 points in the fourth quarter alone, the Hornets were done in Friday night by four turnovers — one of which UIW returned for a touchdown — and by Cardinals quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr.
The 24-year-old, who is playing for his fifth team in a seven-year college career, was the star of the highest-scoring game in FCS playoff history. He passed for 219 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 183 more and two more TDs.
“He’s unbelievable,” Taylor told the Sacramento Bee. “Electric.”
“He’s the best player in the country,” said UIW coach G.J. Kinne. “He proved it.”
Scott, whose season is not over, already has set an FCS record with 59 touchdown passes while leading an Incarnate Word team (12-1) that will face No. 3 seed North Dakota State in the semifinals a week from now. UIW averages 53 points per game.
Taylor told his players “how much I love them and how proud I am. It hurts when you don’t win the last game. That doesn’t change how I feel about them. It was an unbelievable effort. Our guys always think we’ll find a way. This is a special group. Pretty phenomenal.”
Cover photo of Troy Taylor by Mark J. Rebilias, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
