Tavita Pritchard

Tavita Pritchard
refer to caption
Pritchard with Stanford in 2008
Washington Commanders
Position:Quarterbacks coach
Personal information
Born: (1987-02-20) February 20, 1987 (age 37)
Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:173 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High school:Clover Park (Lakewood, Washington)
College:Stanford (2006–2009)
Career history
As a coach:
  • Stanford (2010)
    Graduate assistant
  • Stanford (2011–2012)
    Defensive assistant
  • Stanford (2013)
    Running backs coach
  • Stanford (2014–2017)
    Quarterbacks coach & wide receivers coach
  • Stanford (2018–2022)
    Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Washington Commanders (2023–present)
    Quarterbacks coach

Tavita Pritchard (ta-VEE-tuh; born February 20, 1987) is an American professional football coach who is the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, with his 2007 victory over the USC Trojans being cited among the biggest upsets in college football history. He entered coaching as a graduate assistant with Stanford in 2010. After having various assistant roles, he was named offensive coordinator in 2018 and held that position until leaving to join the Commanders in 2023.

Early life and education

Pritchard graduated from Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington, where he threw for 5,323 yards and 55 touchdowns in his high school career.[1]

Pritchard received his first start at Stanford in 2007 against the top-ranked USC Trojans, after starter T. C. Ostrander suffered a seizure the week before. Though Stanford was a 41-point underdog, he led them to an 24–23 victory.[2][3] The game is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history.

Pritchard was replaced as the starting quarterback by redshirt freshman Andrew Luck during the 2009 season.[4] After Luck injured a finger on his throwing hand and had surgery prior to the 2009 Sun Bowl, Pritchard started the game for the Cardinal. He went 8 for 19 for 118 yards and two interceptions in the 31–27 loss to Oklahoma. Pritchard went undrafted in the 2010 NFL draft. He tried out with the San Francisco 49ers but was not offered a contract. While at Stanford, Pritchard majored in communications and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.[citation needed]

Coaching career

Stanford

Pritchard worked as a volunteer assistant for the Stanford football team in 2010, and in 2011, was hired as a defensive assistant football coach at Stanford by new head football coach David Shaw. In January 2013, Pritchard was elevated to the role of running backs coach. In December 2013, he was promoted to quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, succeeding Mike Sanford.[5] In December 2017, Pritchard was promoted to offensive coordinator when Mike Bloomgren left to become head coach at Rice.[6]

Washington Commanders

On February 24, 2023, Pritchard was hired by the Washington Commanders as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Ron Rivera.[4][7]

On February 15, 2024, Pritchard was retained by the Commanders as their quarterbacks coach under head coach Dan Quinn.[8]

Personal life

Pritchard's father David was a starting center at Washington State in 1981 and an uncle is former NFL quarterback Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson.[1] He is third in a family of eleven children. He grew up in Centralia, Washington and his freshman year he moved to Lakewood, Washington.

References

  1. ^ a b "Player Bio: Tavita Pritchard". Stanford Football Media Guide. 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  2. ^ "Harbaugh: "This is the start"". San Jose Mercury News. October 8, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
  3. ^ Sabedra, Darren (October 10, 2007). "Pritchard will remain Stanford starter at quarterback". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Jhabvala, Nicki. "At 22, he helped coach Andrew Luck. Now, he's helping shape the Commanders". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Stanford's Pritchard gets a promotion". San Jose Mercury News. December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Tavita Pritchard". Stanford Department of Athletics. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  7. ^ "Commanders announce staff changes". www.commanders.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Washington Commanders Public Relations (February 15, 2024). "Washington Commanders announce coaching staff". Commanders.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.