Stanford football has turned many eyes over the last few years. After Jim Harbaugh successfully changed the culture of the program, David Shaw has continued to build the Cardinal in to an elite football power. It is no wonder why Shaw would be considered a potential target for some lucrative job openings that could be available in a few months.
Texas? USC? The NFL? Shaw says forget it.
While being interviewed by Jim Rome on The Jim Rome Show, Shaw said he appreciates the level of coaching that can be had at the NFL, but he has no plans to return to the pros, or anywhere else for that matter.
“I absolutely love it here,” Shaw said. “My family loves it here. My wife is an East Coast woman who’s been transplanted here to Palo Alto, California and never wants to leave. So I plan on being here for a very long time.”
There is something to be said about a coach who goes on the record and says he prefers to stay where he is rather than leave the door open for potential job offers from bigger programs with deeper pockets or the NFL. A coach preaching bout the good that can be witnessed in the college game is refreshing and serves as a reminder at times how there are good things happening in the sport that is polluted by pay-for-play conversations and debates, players violating rules for any number of reasons and more.
“These intelligent guys who’ve fought through hardships, but are also brilliant and well-connected,” Shaw said. “They have a chance to do some unbelievable things when they go out into the world.”
Of course, this could all be your regular run-of-the-mill coach-speak and Shaw could jump out of Palo Alto as soon as a call from Austin or Los Angeles comes up on his phone. Hey, I’ll take Shaw at his word, but how many coaches have said similar things before ultimately having a change of heart when a better offer came their way?