Tavita Pritchard
Tavita Pritchard is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach for the Stanford Cardinal. Pritchard played college football at Stanford, with his [2007 Stanford vs. USC American football|football game|2007 victory over the USC Trojans] sometimes cited among the biggest upsets in college football history. He entered coaching as a graduate assistant with Stanford in 2010; he was named offensive coordinator in 2018. Pritchard served as the Washington Commanders' quarterback coach from 2023 to 2025 before being named Stanford's head coach for the 2026 season.
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.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. The game is considered among the greatest upsets in college football history.
Pritchard was replaced as the starting quarterback by redshirt freshman Andrew Luck during the 2009 season. 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.