Stanford has officially named Troy Taylor as its new head coach, replacing David Shaw, who went 96-54 with the Cardinal from 2011 to 2022.

Taylor turned Sacramento State into a perennial FCS Playoffs team, losing in the second round twice and falling in the quarterfinals this season.

He has previous experience as Utah’s offensive coordinator. In a release from the school, Taylor said he’s excited for the opportunity to lead the Cardinal into the future:

“I am thrilled to be the new head football coach at Stanford University,” Taylor said. “The opportunity to lead the finest student-athletes in the country is truly a dream come true, 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.”

Stanford legend Andrew Luck signed off on the new coach, praising him in a statement:

“Coach Taylor’s energy and passion for football are infectious,” said Andrew Luck, who served on the search committee and 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.”

Former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was also impressed with Taylor’s track record:

“Troy’s track record as an innovative, winning football coach is remarkable and unique,” said Condoleezza Rice, who also served on the search committee. “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.”

Can Taylor turn the Cardinal around? We’ll see how he fares in his first year at the helm of the program in 2023.