Stanford hires Frank Reich as interim head coach for '25 - ESPN

Stanford has hired veteran NFL coach Frank Reich as the school's interim football coach for the 2025 season, it was announced Monday.

Both sides have agreed it will be only a one-season deal, sources told ESPN. Stanford will launch a national search to find a permanent replacement for fired coach Troy Taylor at the end of the 2025 season.

«The unique responsibility to mentor the best student-athletes in the world, to be the absolute best in what they aspire to do, is an opportunity I will fully embrace,» Reich said in a statement.

Taylor was fired last week amid findings by two outside firms that he had bullied and belittled female athletic staffers, sought to have an NCAA compliance officer removed after she warned him of rules violations and repeatedly made «inappropriate» comments to another woman about her appearance.

Stanford also is promoting tight ends coach Nate Byham to offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN. Byham will call plays for the Cardinal, which have gone 3-9 over four consecutive seasons.

Reich's hire is another significant move for Stanford football general manager Andrew Luck, who is believed to be the only collegiate general manager to have full control of the team's coaching staff. Luck, the former Stanford and NFL quarterback, was hired in November in an effort to turn around the program at his alma mater, which hasn't had a winning season since 2020.

Reich, 63, coached Luck during Luck's final NFL season in 2018 and has a strong relationship with him.

«I could not be more excited for our coaches, staff and players,» Luck said in a statement. «I have experienced first-hand the incredible impact Frank has demonstrated as a leader and have full confidence he is the perfect steward for this season