Card Clicks: Stanford Introduces David Shaw

by Scott Allen on Jan 14, 2026 10:21 AM PST

Bob Bowlsby smiles with new Stanford head coach David Shaw at yesterday's introductory press conference. Shayne Skov is EVERYWHERE.

Browse more photos »

Calling his decision the most logical step he could take, Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby introduced David Shaw as the next head coach of the Cardinal football team yesterday. Bowlsby said he interviewed four internal candidates and had serious conversations with three others from outside the program before choosing Shaw, a Stanford graduate and assistant to Jim Harbaugh for the last five seasons, including one at San Diego.

I couldn't agree more with the reaction to the hiring at Go Mighty Card. Here's the money quote from Shaw's press conference:

"Since the day I started coaching, this is the job I knew I wanted, and the day is finally there. ... I wanted this to be my last head-coaching interview ever."

It's not exactly "enthusiasm unknown to mankind," but it's an indication that Shaw is looking to continue to build a successful program at Stanford and maintain it for as long as he's welcome. That's one thing that separated him from Vic Fangio and Greg Roman.

"He's a Stanford man," Andrew Luck said. "I've known that since he was recruiting me coming out of high school -- a deep, abiding love and respect for Stanford. You can really tell that. He's going to do a wonderful job with this program and the players are behind him 100 percent."

A few more links after the jump...

When Shaw followed Jim Harbaugh from San Diego to Stanford, he told him, "Whenever you're done with it, I want to take it over." | Mark Purdy

Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener were named to ESPN.com's All-Bowl Team. | ESPN

As expected, Harbaugh announced the hiring of Greg Roman as his offensive coordinator. | Mercury News

Did you see the exciting finish to last night's basketball game?! No, you didn't, unless you happened to be at the game. Josh Owens scored 14 points, including the game-winning putback in the final minute, to lead Stanford to a 58-56 win over No. 17 Washington. | The Daily Axe

"I just tried to make a play," Owens said of his game-winning basket. | Stanford Daily

The Stanford women play at Washington tonight. | GoStanford.com

Tweet Comment 5 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: Andrew Luck (QB - Stanford), Stanford Cardinal

Comments

Washington game last night

That game was a roller coaster. In the first half, it looked for sure that Stanford would win, until Washington hit a shot at the buzzer to cut the deficit to one. The Huskies rode that shot into the second half and coasted to an 11-point lead. Granted, Stanford was as cold as cold could be for the first ten minutes of the half, but it still wasn’t good. Then UW went on a cold snap and couldn’t hit any baskets while Stanford got a three at the most opportune time (I think Stanford finished 2-9 from outside the three when it’s typically up in the 40% range at home).

UW is good. Scary good. They’re tall, athletic, and aggressive. Of course, that worked against them at Maples because they got numerous behind-the-back calls since beyond Trotter and Powell, Stanford’s lineup isn’t nearly as tall. It also helped that a missed FT (which BTW, wasn’t nearly as bad as in the past, especially since UW shot just as bad) by Green in the last five minutes was waved off due to a Husky player being in the lane when he took the shot, resulting in Green getting a redo (and making the FT to improve the lead).

by RedOscar on Jan 14, 2026 11:43 AM PST reply actions

I dig it

Shaw is going to tear up the Pac 12

by CardinalRules07 on Jan 14, 2026 12:22 PM PST reply actions

All for it

I’m pretty excited about Shaw. Stanford’s offense was so much fun to watch and having some continuity is nothing but a good thing. Bottom line is that if Andrew Luck and the other players continue to buy in, Stanford is gonna be in good shape.

On a separate note, all this is making me realize how much more fun it is to have a team that can actually win games. There are few people I like less than Walt Harris, in large part because I hold him responsible for spoiling a big part of my undergraduate experience. Man, that guy sucked.

by GeneralGametime on Jan 14, 2026 12:55 PM PST reply actions