Stanford fires coach Taylor after misconduct investigation reports leak

Stanford fired head coach Troy Taylor, the school announced Tuesday, about a week after ESPN published the reports from two workplace misconduct investigations into Taylor commissioned in 2023 and 2024.

Multiple employees filed complaints about "hostile and aggressive behavior, as well as personal attacks," according to ESPN's Xuan Thai. The investigation reports said that Taylor bullied female athletic staffers and tried to get an NCAA compliance officer removed from her job after she warned him about rules violations.

"It has been clear that certain aspects of the program need change," Cardinal general manager Andrew Luck said in a statement, according to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

"Additionally, in recent days, there has been significant attention to Stanford investigations in previous years related to Coach Taylor. After continued consideration, it is evident to me that our program needs a reset. In consultation with university leadership, I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football program."

Taylor posted a 6-18 record at Stanford. The 56-year-old joined the Cardinal after helping Sacramento State go 30-8 from 2019-22.