Early Sunday morning, David Shaw stepped to the podium and announced a decision that had been rumored but still qualified as a shock: He had coached his final game at Stanford.
Shaw, the team's all-time winningest coach with 96 victories, resigned shortly after finishing his 12th season leading his alma mater. He reached his decision during Thanksgiving, saying it simply was time to move on and spend more time with his family and pursuing other interests. Stanford's recent struggles -- the team recorded consecutive 3-9 seasons and owns a 14-28 record since the start of 2019 -- didn't drive Shaw's decision, although he acknowledged the challenges that the program faces in the current environment with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness.
Stanford will have a hard time finding a better fit than Shaw, who adores the university and its mission. He led the Cardinal to three Pac-12 championships, two Rose Bowl titles and five AP top-12 finishes in his first six seasons. He recruited well throughout his tenure, produced plenty of NFL players and, until recently, challenged consistently in the Pac-12.
But Stanford must pivot to the realities of the current environment. The portal has hurt a school that struggles to add transfers but can lose them. Shaw acknowledged that Stanford often moves methodically, and believes the school can make the necessary "growth" to once again compete at a high level.
The next coach will play a big role in helping Stanford adjust. Shaw said athletic director Bernard Muir will have plenty of interested candidates, although when it comes to realistic options, the list is a bit shorter than it is for most other programs. Stanford needs a coach who is comfortable in a rigorous academic setting and can recruit nationally but ideally has some ties to the West Coast and the Pac-12.
Here's a look at eight candidates Stanford could consider to replace Shaw in 2023.
Chris Petersen: If the former Washington and Boise State coach is interested, Stanford should call off its search immediately. Stanford is the type of job that once tempted Petersen and might lure him back to the sideline. He's in no rush to return after stepping down at Washington following the 2019 season and working now as a studio analyst for Fox. Petersen, 58, is 147-38 overall as an FBS coach and guided Washington to two Pac-12 titles and the school's only College Football Playoff appearance. He played at UC Davis and has recruited the West Coast for almost his entire career. Petersen has a targeted approach to recruiting and player development that would fit Stanford well. But does he want to deal with the portal/NIL challenges that have hurt Stanford in recent years?
Baylor coach Dave Aranda: Like Petersen, Aranda would be an excellent fit at Stanford. He could be interested in returning to his home state and working in an environment known for both academic and athletic success. He generated plenty of Pac-12 buzz last year but chose to remain at Baylor, which pays him well and provides good administrative support and leadership. Aranda, 46, has shown he can coach in different environments, but his distinctly cerebral approach would be fully embraced at a program like Stanford. He also doesn't mind tackling challenges like NIL and the portal. There's a lot keeping Aranda in Waco, Texas, but Stanford should pursue him nonetheless.
Paul Chryst: If Stanford wants an experienced coach who succeeded at a program with strong academic standards, Chryst would make a lot of sense. He went 67-26 at Wisconsin before surprisingly being fired in October, and he helped the Badgers reach three New Year's Six bowls and four AP Top 25 finishes. Things ultimately got stale for Chryst at Wisconsin, but a location change and the chance to restore success could invigorate him. The 57-year-old also has some Pac-12 ties after two stints as Oregon State's offensive coordinator.
Rice coach Mike Bloomgren: Stanford's on-field decline has coincided with Bloomgren's departure as the team's offensive coordinator/offensive line coach. Bloomgren, 45, helped fortify Stanford's line from 2011 to 2017 and held a coordinator title for his final five seasons. His overall record at Rice (16-38, no bowl appearances) might be too much for Stanford to ignore, but he's well respected around the program and should at least merit some consideration to replace his former boss.
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman: Stanford has a history of hiring coaches with NFL ties, including Shaw and Jim Harbaugh. Roman, 50, also has spent most of his career in pro ball, but coached at Stanford in 2008 and 2009 under Harbaugh before joining him with the San Francisco 49ers. He has been an NFL coordinator with the 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Ravens, but he has interest in being a head coach and possibly returning to college. Stanford certainly could gauge his interest, although the timing of the NFL season makes things tricky.
Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Derek Mason: Not long ago, Mason would have been viewed as a natural successor to Shaw, with whom he worked at Stanford from 2007 to 2013. The question is how much Mason's eventual struggles at Vanderbilt, where he went 27-55 as coach, would hurt his chances of returning to The Farm. Mason, 53, is a Phoenix native who understands the advantages and challenges at Stanford and also has coached in college during the portal/NIL era.
Bronco Mendenhall: He's not afraid of taking on a struggling program at an academically rigorous school. Mendenhall left a comfortable situation at BYU for Virginia, which was coming off four consecutive losing seasons. He led the Cavaliers to the ACC title game in Year 4 and had only one losing regular season before surprisingly stepping down last year. Mendenhall, 56, seemingly wants to return to the sideline and had been in the mix for Colorado's coaching vacancy this year. He's 135-81 in the FBS and has Pac-12 roots as a former Oregon State player and defensive coordinator.
Sacramento State coach Troy Taylor: Some Stanford fans might not love the thought of a former Cal quarterback on the Cardinal sideline, but Taylor should get a look for the job. He has won or shared conference titles in his first three seasons at Sacramento State, which is undefeated and a No. 2 seed entering the FCS playoffs. Taylor, 54, understands environments like Stanford after his time at Cal as both a player and an assistant. He also has Pac-12 coordinator experience at Utah and knows the California recruiting scene well. Stanford would be a big jump, but Taylor merits some consideration.