The Stanford job is open in the middle of spring football following an investigation into Troy Taylor. Hiring a coach at this point in the year can be challenging, but we have seen programs find quality coaches in the spring before. Kansas, for example, hired Lance Leipold in the spring after firing Les Miles. Stanford could also find the right coach now.
Finding a winning coach at Stanford is difficult due to its high academic standards. Additionally, with the program now in the ACC, the team must travel thousands of miles for nearly every away game. Given that Stanford just dismissed a coach over bullying allegations, the school is almost certain to prioritize hiring someone with a spotless record. The candidate pool may be limited, but let’s take a look at who could be in the mix.
Jay Norvell (Nevada Head Coach) – Jay Norvell owns a career 49-47 record, but a deeper look into his history shows his ability to turn programs around. He spent five seasons at Nevada, posting a winning record in his final four years after winning just three games in his first season. Norvell recently completed his third season at Colorado State, finishing 8-5 and leading the team to its first bowl game since 2017. Having spent the majority of his career coaching on the West Coast, he could be a strong candidate to turn Stanford around.
Bob Chesney (James Madison Head Coach) – Bob Chesney just completed his first season at James Madison, but he has a long track record of success, similar to Lance Leipold and Curt Cignetti. With a career 120-50 record across FBS, FCS, Division II, and Division III, he has recorded just one losing season since he began coaching in 2010. Winning at the Division III level without scholarships suggests he could succeed even at a program with the highest academic standards. However, Chesney has no clear ties to the West Coast, having spent his entire career coaching in the Northeast. Would he consider making the move, or would he hold out for a different opportunity? Either way, Stanford might find it worth making the call.
Andy Thompson (Stanford Assistant Head Coach) – If Stanford chooses to look internally, they may consider Andy Thompson, the only coach on staff with head coaching experience. Thompson went 11 and 14 in two seasons at Sacramento State in 2023 and 2024, but there is a major hurdle. He coached under Troy Taylor, and the administration will likely want to distance itself from Taylor following his scandal. Having spent four seasons under Taylor from 2019 to 2022, Thompson’s ties to him make it unlikely that Stanford will go in his direction. However, if they do stay in house, he would be the most logical choice.
Jim Mora Jr (UConn Head Coach) – UConn is one of the toughest jobs in college football. The Huskies are not in a conference and have one of the weakest recruiting bases in the country. New England is not known for great football, and convincing top recruits to come to Connecticut is a challenge. Yet Jim Mora has managed to win nine games with UConn, leading the program to two bowl games in three seasons, including a 9 and 4 record last year. He previously spent six seasons at UCLA from 2012 to 2017, where he helped the Bruins win 10 games multiple times. With his familiarity with the West Coast, he could be a strong fit for Stanford. At 63, Mora still has time to give the Cardinal a few quality seasons before retiring.
Brent Vigen (Montana St Head Coach) – Stanford went to the FCS level for its last coach, so maybe it will take the same approach again. Brent Vigen has led Montana State for the past three years, making the championship game twice but falling to North Dakota State both times. With a 47 and 10 record across four seasons, he appears destined for a bigger job. Could Stanford be his next stop? He has only coached at the FBS level with Wyoming and has never worked at the Power Four level. His lack of experience at the highest level might make Stanford hesitant to consider him.
Gary Patterson (Former TCU Head Coach) – If Stanford is looking for a stopgap coach, Gary Patterson would be a solid option to explore. At 65, Patterson is a true short-term choice, likely to retire in a few years, but he could come in and install a strong culture. After he left TCU, the program made the National Championship the very next year, showing the lasting impact he had. Patterson went 181 and 79 over more than two decades at TCU and has since spent time at Texas and Baylor. For a genuine short-term solution, Stanford should consider giving Patterson a look if he’s interested.
Andrew Luck (Stanford General Manager) – Andrew Luck’s name has been mentioned in connection with the Stanford job, despite his lack of coaching experience. There’s no doubt that Luck is incredibly intelligent—he majored in Architectural Engineering while playing football at the highest level and eventually became the number one pick in the NFL draft. At just 35 years old, he only joined the program in November. The only reason his name has surfaced is due to the online buzz from fans. Realistically, he has no shot at being the next coach, even on a temporary basis.
Paul Chryst (Former Wisconsin Coach) – How is Paul Chryst still unemployed? He went 67-26 at Wisconsin, including three Big Ten Championship appearances. He was just one win away from making the College Football Playoffs in 2017. Chryst led the Badgers to nine wins in 2021, but after starting 2-3 in 2022, Wisconsin decided to go in a new direction. Despite this, Wisconsin has won 12 games in the last two seasons without him. Under Chryst, Wisconsin featured some of the best rushing attacks in college football, including standout players like Jonathan Taylor and Melvin Gordon. With his success, it’s clear that Chryst would be a strong candidate if Stanford decides to reach out.
Dave Clawson (Former Wake Forest Coach) – Winning at Wake Forest is one of the harder jobs in college football, but Dave Clawson proved he could find success there. In 11 seasons, Clawson led Wake Forest to seven bowl games, a significant achievement for a program that has only been to 17 bowl games in its entire history. However, after back-to-back four-win seasons, Clawson was let go. Would Stanford consider a coach who won just three conference games in his final two seasons? Perhaps Clawson just needs a fresh start. It wouldn’t be surprising if he made the short list for Stanford’s next head coach.
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