It will convey a reunion between Reich and Andrew Luck, whom the Cardinal employed as their soccer GM months in the past. Reich coached Luck from 2018 till his August 2019 retirement. Will probably be a one-year union, although, as Stanford is confirming this can be a short-term settlement to put in Reich as interim head coach whereas this system reboots after firing Troy Taylor.
Stanford canned Taylor after an investigation revealed the previous HC bullied feminine employees members, amongst different findings. A well-respected coach throughout his time within the NFL, Reich can be introduced in as a stopgap whereas the now-ACC-stationed program searches for a long-term substitute, Thamel provides.
Reich, 63, will step in as a CEO HC, which can differ from his function in Indianapolis. The Cardinal are selling tight ends coach Nate Byham to their offensive coordinator submit, Thamel adds. A former Buccaneers tight ends coach, Byham is anticipated to name performs. Reich referred to as performs all through his Colts tenure and through most of his one-season Panthers keep. These are completely different circumstances, nonetheless, as Luck is looking on his former boss to steer the ship within the brief time period.
Following Luck, Invoice Belichick and Ron Rivera (Cal’s new GM), Reich will step into the muddied waters of faculty soccer, a sport trudging by means of a interval that includes important impression from the switch portal and NIL commitments. Luck is main the way in which right here, overseeing his alma mater’s price range on this new period of faculty soccer, however he’ll now work with Reich on this entrance.
Though Luck and Reich’s NFL partnership was transient, because of the previous’s surprising retirement forward of the latter’s second season in cost, the 2 have maintained an excellent relationship since. Reich coached Luck to a Comeback Participant of the Yr season in 2018, when the Colts made a stunning voyage to the NFL’s divisional spherical. The Colts have struggled to establish a Luck successor, a storyline that performed the lead function in Reich’s firing in the course of the 2022 season.
When the Panthers fired Reich in December 2023, he mentioned another coaching gig was unlikely. Nevertheless, he’s removed from the primary coach to return to the sport after indicating retirement was on faucet.
Reich is coming off a 1-11 document with the 2023 Panthers, who employed him over retaining interim HC Steve Wilks. The Eagles OC throughout their Tremendous Bowl LII-winning season, Reich guided the Colts to 2 playoff berths — the second with Philip Rivers at QB — throughout his time as Indianapolis’ HC. He’ll take the reins of a Cardinal crew that has gone 3-9 in every of the previous 4 seasons. A former NFL backup, Reich has by no means coached on the faculty degree.
Luck rejoined the program last November, and whereas Taylor was initially retained after the varsity’s investigation, a change of coronary heart keyed a change. The 2018 Colts partnership will present a bridge to that new period for this system, as Luck will play a central function in figuring out Reich’s substitute after the 2025 marketing campaign.
