Tavita Pritchard

Last updated

Tavita Pritchard
Tavita Pritchard 2025 (cropped).jpg
Pritchard with the Washington Commanders in 2025
Current position
Title Head coach
Team Stanford
Conference ACC
Record0–0
Biographical details
Born (1987-02-20) February 20, 1987 (age 38)
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Playing career
2006–2009 Stanford
Position Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2010 Stanford (GA)
2011–2012Stanford (DA)
2013Stanford (RB)
2014–2017Stanford (QB/WR)
2018–2022Stanford (OC/QB)
2023–2025 Washington Commanders (QB)
2026–presentStanford
Head coaching record
Overall0–0

Tavita Pritchard (ta-VEE-tuh; born February 20, 1987) is an American college football coach who is the head football coach at Stanford University. He previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Stanford, with his 2007 victory over the USC Trojans being cited among the biggest upsets in college football history. Pritchard entered coaching as a graduate assistant with Stanford in 2010; he was named offensive coordinator in 2018 and held that position until leaving to join the Commanders in 2023.

Contents

Playing career

Pritchard graduated from Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington, where as quarterback of the football team, he threw for 5,323 yards and 55 touchdowns in his high school career. [1]

At Stanford, he received his first start in 2007 against the top-ranked USC Trojans, after starter T. C. Ostrander suffered a seizure the week before. Though Stanford was a 41-point underdog, he led them to a 24–23 victory. [2] [3] The game is considered the greatest upset in college football history.

Pritchard was replaced as the starting quarterback by redshirt freshman Andrew Luck during the 2009 season. [4] After Luck injured a finger on his throwing hand and had surgery prior to the 2009 Sun Bowl, Pritchard started the game for the Cardinal. He went 8 for 19 for 118 yards and two interceptions in the 31–27 loss to Oklahoma. Pritchard went undrafted in the 2010 NFL draft. He tried out with the San Francisco 49ers but was not offered a contract.

Coaching career

Stanford

Pritchard worked as a volunteer assistant for the Stanford football team in 2010, and in 2011, was hired as a defensive assistant football coach at Stanford by new head football coach David Shaw. In January 2013, Pritchard was elevated to the role of running backs coach. In December 2013, he was promoted to quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, succeeding Mike Sanford. [5] In December 2017, Pritchard was promoted to offensive coordinator when Mike Bloomgren left to become head coach at Rice. [6]

Washington Commanders

On February 24, 2023, Pritchard was hired by the Washington Commanders as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Ron Rivera. [4] [7]

On February 15, 2024, Pritchard was retained by the Commanders as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Dan Quinn. [8] That following season, Pritchard would coach Commanders' second overall draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, who would go on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. [9] [10]

Second stint with Stanford

Stanford hired Pritchard as its head coach on November 28, 2025. Pritchard succeeded Frank Reich, who had served as interim head coach since the dismissal of Troy Taylor in March. [11] [12]

Personal life

Pritchard's father David was a starting center at Washington State in 1981 and an uncle is former NFL quarterback Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson. [1] He is third in a family of eleven children. He grew up in Centralia, Washington and for his freshman year of high school he moved to Lakewood, Washington.

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Stanford Cardinal (Atlantic Coast Conference)(2026–present)
2026 Stanford 0–00–0
Stanford:0–00–0
Total:0–0

References

  1. 1 2 "Player Bio: Tavita Pritchard". Stanford Football Media Guide. 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Harbaugh: "This is the start"". San Jose Mercury News. October 8, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
  3. ↑ Sabedra, Darren (October 10, 2007). "Pritchard will remain Stanford starter at quarterback". San Jose Mercury News . Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  4. 1 2 Jhabvala, Nicki. "At 22, he helped coach Andrew Luck. Now, he's helping shape the Commanders". The Washington Post . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Stanford's Pritchard gets a promotion". San Jose Mercury News. December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Tavita Pritchard". Stanford Department of Athletics. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Commanders announce staff changes". www.commanders.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Washington Commanders Public Relations (February 15, 2024). "Washington Commanders announce coaching staff". Commanders.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Tavita Pritchard to be Stanford football's next head coach". December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Stanford football announces Frank Reich as Interim Head Coach for 2025 season". Stanford Cardinal . March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Tavita Pritchard Named Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football". Stanford Cardinal - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
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