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Former Stanford head coach Troy Taylor releases statement after firing

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•04/16/25•

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Former Stanford head coach Troy Taylor released a statement following his firing from the football program. He was fired after accusations of bullying and belittling female staffers.

The statement in its entirety can be read below. General manager Andrew Luck made the decision to move on from Taylor going into the 2025 season.

For now, Frank Reich will serve as the interim head coach for the fall. That’ll be before a full fledged search ahead of 2026.

“For 30 years, I have been a coach and educator at the high school and collegiate level,” Taylor said. “I have had great team success with every program that I have coached, without a single issue or complaint around my treatment of others. I applied the same approach and values to a Stanford program dealing with some upheaval.

“A private workplace investigation was recently improperly disclosed to local and national media. The investigation that took place in June 2023 was conducted due to a complaint from an athletic administrator that claimed that I tried to remove her as our football administrator for an unfair reason. Although I disagreed with the complaint, I took it seriously and fully cooperated. The investigation, which I still have never seen, concluded that I did not act unfairly. On February 29, 2024, Stanford gave me a contract extension and raise because I was told we were building something special.”

Troy Taylor releases statement after firing

Taylor’s statement continued from there. He talked about his cooperation with the investigation.

“Later, in March 2024, a second complaint was made by a member of the compliance office regarding a discussion about the physical speed at which Stanford players could participate in a walk-through,” Taylor said. “This was resolved in July 2024. Two other witnesses (one male and one female) were present during the initial discussion about the speed at which players could participate in a walk-through. Both told me at the time that my behavior was appropriate.

“Nevertheless, I willingly complied with the second investigation, this time baed on this brief interaction. Based on the investigator’s conclusion related to this interaction, which I disagreed with, Stanford asked that I forfeit an agreed upon raise and change my tone. I accepted Stanford’s demand last summer for the sake of the team. I was not shown the private and confidential second report that was also improperly disclosed to ESPN recently. I’ve not been the subject of any other complaints or investigations since this investigation last summer.

Taylor concluded his statement regarding media coverage. He said it was unfair from the jump.

“The media’s recent portrayal of me is unfair, wrong, and contrary to my professional track record and the person I am and have always been,” Taylor said. “The truth is that Stanford terminated me without cause and, as a result, is honoring the original payment terms of my contract. I stand by my effort to lead with integrity at Stanford and elsewhere and to build a winning team and culture that is inclusive and respectful of everyone.

“I strongly believe in the players, coaches, and staff currently at Stanford. While I am disappointed that Stanford has now decided that I am no longer the right person to lead the football team, I am grateful for my time at Stanford and wish Stanford and the football team all the best.”