David Shaw ( American football ) David Shaw ( born July 31 , 1972 ) is the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal football team . Shaw was the team ' s offensive coordinator for the entire tenure of head coach Jim Harbaugh from 2007 to 2010 . Previously , Shaw was a four - year letter winner playing as a wide receiver for the Cardinal from 1991 to 1994 , where he was coached by Dennis Green and Bill Walsh . Prior to returning to Stanford as offensive coordinator , Shaw was Harbaugh ' s passing game coordinator at the University of San Diego and an assistant coach in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles , Oakland Raiders , and Baltimore Ravens . Early life and playing career . Shaw was born in San Diego , California and moved with his family around the country following his father Willie ' s career as an NFL coach . Shaw played high school football at Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills , Michigan while his father coached for the Detroit Lions . In 1989 , Willie accepted a coaching job at Stanford University and the family moved back to the Bay Area where David ultimately graduated from James Logan High School in Union City , California . He went on to attend Stanford University , where he played college football as a wide receiver under head coaches Dennis Green and Bill Walsh . In his college career from 1991 to 1994 , Shaw caught 57 passes for 664 yards and scored five touchdowns . Shaw was also on the Stanford men ' s basketball and track teams while at the University before earning a B . A . in sociology in 1995 . NFL coaching career . His coaching career began at Western Washington University in 1995 . In 1997 , Shaw began a nine - year run as an NFL assistant coach with stints for the Philadelphia Eagles , Oakland Raiders , and Baltimore Ravens . As the Raiders ' quality control from 1998 – 2000 and quarterbacks coach in 2001 , the team won two consecutive AFC West titles and completed a 10 – 6 regular season . Shaw was the quarterback s coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2002 – 2004 and wide receiver s coach for the Ravens from 2002 – 2005 , with the 2003 team finishing with a 10 – 6 regular season mark and winning the AFC North . In 2005 , Shaw coached wide receivers Derrick Mason to a Ravens record of 86 receptions and 1 , 073 receiving yards ( the third - highest Baltimore record ) and Mark Clayton to a Ravens rookie record of 44 receptions for 471 yards . College coaching career . In 2006 , Shaw left the NFL for the University of San Diego to join head coach Jim Harbaugh ' s staff as passing game coordinator . The 11 – 1 Toreros ' offense led the NCAA Division I - AA in many statistical categories , including passing offense ( 293 . 3 ypg ) , total offense ( 494 . 25 ypg ) , and scoring offense ( 42 . 83 ppg ) . When Harbaugh was hired as head coach of Shaw ' s alma mater , Stanford , in 2007 , he brought Shaw as offensive coordinator . During his years as an assistant coach , Shaw also coached the Cardinal wide receivers and running backs . Shaw ' s unit performed successfully during his years as coordinator , powered by 2010 Heisman Trophy runner - up Andrew Luck . They scored at least 40 points in 11 different games with Shaw as offensive coordinator , including 10 times in the 2009 and 2010 seasons . The Cardinal achieved a school - record 461 points in 2009 and broke the record again the following season with 524 points . Despite the graduation of 2009 Heisman Trophy runner - up Toby Gerhart , during Stanford ' s 2010 season when Shaw took over as running backs coach , the Cardinal running game was second in the conference and 17th in the nation with an average of 213 . 77 yards and a total of 2 , 779 yards , Stanford ' s second - highest rushing total ever . In January 2011 , Shaw was promoted to head coach after Harbaugh left to become head coach of the NFL ' s San Francisco 49ers . Shaw is the first Stanford alumnus to serve as head football coach since Paul Wiggin , who coached Stanford from 1980 – 1983 . Personal . Shaw and his wife Kori have three children . His father , Willie , was a Stanford assistant coach under Jack Christiansen from 1974 – 1976 and Dennis Green from 1989 – 1991 , and an NFL assistant coach in the NFL with the Detroit Lions , Kansas City Chiefs , Minnesota Vikings , New Orleans Saints , Oakland Raiders , San Diego Chargers , and St . Louis Rams . Willie Shaw was a finalist for Stanford ' s head football coach position in 1992 that eventually went to Bill Walsh ( and which would go to David Shaw in 2011 ) .