David Shaw to be Named Stanford Football Head Coach

by Scott Allen on Jan 13, 2026 10:20 AM PST

As reported by Jon Wilner and Ivan Maisel, offensive coordintaor David Shaw will replace Jim Harbaugh as head coach of the Stanford football team. The school has scheulded an introductory press conference at 1:30 p.m. PST, which will be streamed live at GoStanford.com.

Shaw, a former wide receiver at Stanford, coached for one year under Harbaugh at the University of San Diego before following him to the Farm in 2007. Receiver Doug Baldwin told the Mercury News that Shaw was the players' choice to replace Harbaugh, though Wilner has since stated that the players would have been happy with any of the three internal candidates.

I'm happy with the hire, as I was hoping Bowlsby would tap an internal candidate from the start. We'll see what Vic Fangio and Greg Roman decide to do in the coming days, but at least the head coach is in place. What are your thoughts?

Update: Fangio and Roman will not return.

Here's the official release. You can watch the press conference here.

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Good stuff...

I think he’ll be good for next year - here’s hoping he is also good long-term. Hopefully the fact that he is an alum will make it more likely that he will stay if he is successful.

by RickeySteals on Jan 13, 2026 10:44 AM PST reply actions

This is really the best outcome.

Though I would have been fine with Roman too. Will be seeing him and Fangio at Candlestick next year at least…

"We're going to win with character but we're also going to win with cruelty." - Jim Harbaugh

by sixthman on Jan 13, 2026 10:57 AM PST reply actions

some perspectives

Who knows how he will be as a head coach? It does make the players happy (which is important, remember how much they hated Walt Harris?) and gives them the best chance of keeping the recruiting class together.
Some history:
  Alumni coaches - Please, not another Paul Wiggin.
Internal promotions- Dowhower didn’t stay. Christiansen wasn’t good (but Mike White, also on Ralston’s staff, would have been a great choice).
  African American coaches— Both Green and Willingham worked out, it has to be an advantage in recruiting.

by vk on Jan 13, 2026 11:22 AM PST reply actions

Can't go wrong with an internal candidate

It seems like none of these candidates was the wrong choice, and none of them was the perfect choice, so I’m happy that they’re promoting from within, but it’s really hard to tell how Shaw will do as a head coach. I like that he has NFL experience and has been coached and has worked under coaches that have had real success at Stanford (Walsh and Harbaugh). As the search came to a close, it seemed readily apparent that promoting one of these internal candidates would send the other two candidates elsewhere. I just hope he has a good idea of where he can get a Fangio 2.0. Hopefully his ties with Harbaugh will aid in that search.

by CardiGrl on Jan 13, 2026 11:28 AM PST reply actions

Great move..........although disappointed in the fact that Coach Fangio and Roman wont be staying.....

But I guess I cant be too suprised that was the case………

The score dictated they pass

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 13, 2026 1:14 PM PST reply actions

Same here

It always struck me that departing coaches are so grateful, etc. — then they proceed to rip off all the assistants.

by Gus Zernial on Jan 13, 2026 1:53 PM PST reply actions

Rip off?

The departing coach in question brought them there in the first place. I’m certain Coach Harbaugh has the best wishes for Stanford at heart, but that won’t stop him from taking as many of his peeps with him as he can.

"(I)f you think you've got an inside track to absolute truth, you become doctrinaire, humorless and intellectually constipated." Saul Alinsky

by dianemarie on Jan 13, 2026 3:12 PM PST up reply actions