David Shaw steps down at Stanford; no plans to coach again

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw has stepped down. The move is effective immediately.

Shaw has been the head coach at his alma mater since 2011. He was 96-54 at the school.

“After many prayers and multiple discussions with my wife, one phrase keeps coming to me — it’s time,” Shaw said in a statement. “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 stepped down to give a new voice to the football team. The Cardinal has had back to back 3-9 seasons.

They have had four straight losing seasons. The team’s last winning record under Shaw came in 2018 when they went 9-4.

Since 2019; however, the Cardinal has gone 14-28. The most wins during this stretch was four.

Shaw took over the Cardinal program in 2011 after Jim Harbaugh left to become the San Francisco 49ers head coach. Before being promoted to head coach, Shaw was the team’s offensive coordinator from 2007 through 2010.

He said that he is going to take some time away from the game. NFL teams have expressed interest in Shaw in the past.

When he is ready, he could pursue those NFL interests or return to the college game.

“There is no desire for me to coach somewhere else,” he said, via The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel.

Shaw is the winningest coach in Cardinal football history.

“David has represented Stanford football, as both a player and a coach, with unwavering grace, humility and integrity,” Cardinal Athletic Director Bernard Muir said. “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.”