STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford football announced the return of five coaches to the 2026 coaching staff.
On the offensive side of the ball, Nate Byham (Tight Ends) and Malcolm Agnew (Running Backs) return for their fourth seasons. On defense, Andy Thompson (Inside Linebackers) and Kodi Whitfield (Safeties) are back for their second seasons. Additionally, Ryan Deatrick will return for season four as the Kissick Family Director of Sports Performance.
Byham helped turn Sam Roush into a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2025 and arguably one of the best in the country. Roush led the ACC in tight end receiving yards (545) and finished tied for the conference lead in tight end receptions (49), ranking fourth and fifth nationally. Roush became the eighth different Cardinal tight end to reach 100 receiving yards in a game when he did so against Pittsburgh, Byham's alma mater. He was also one of five tight ends in the country to have multiple receptions of at least 50 yards.
Over three seasons, Byham has coached multiple all-conference tight ends and as the Andrew Luck Director of Offense in 2024, coached wide receiver CJ Williams to an honorable mention All-ACC season, ranking in the top 10 in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. With Byham’s input, Stanford’s offense scored its most points at Stanford Stadium since 2018.
Agnew led a young running back room during the 2025 season, but one that saw incredible success. Sophomore running back Micah Ford led the group with 643 rushing yards, the most by a Stanford running back since 2019. Ford also had multiple 150-yard performances, the most since Bryce Love in 2017. 2025 also marked the first season since 2010 that Stanford had multiple underclassmen running backs rush for over 400 yards in a season.
In December, Agnew was named to the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 35 class, as announced by the American Football Coaches Association. The AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, presented by Riddell InSite Analytics, is a prestigious program designed to identify and develop premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession.
Thompson helped inside linebacker Matt Rose become the first Cardinal on the defensive side of the ball earn Second Team All-ACC honors. He finished second in the conference in tackles with 106, the most by a Cardinal since Blake Martinez in 2015. Rose was also the only player in the country with a 14-tackle, 1-sack, and 1-fumble recovery game, doing so in Stanford's Big Game win. Rose was also named First Team All-ACC by PFF.
His efforts on defense were also evident in other statistical categories. The Cardinal ranked 28th in the country in rush defense (119.3 yards per game), the team’s best mark since 2014. Stanford also proved to be one of the toughest in the red zone, allowing teams to score touchdowns on just 50% of red zone trips, ranking third in the ACC and 15th nationally.
Whitfield coached Jay Green to a spot on the All-ACC honorable mention team after the redshirt junior safety returned to the field following an ACL injury in 2024. He led the team in pass breakups with eight and recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown in Stanford's win in the 128th Big Game. Stanford’s passing defense was also much improved with Whitfield on staff, allowing the fewest passing touchdowns since 2021 and the fewest points per game since 2018.
Like Agnew, Whitfield was recognized by the AFCA on its 2025 35 Under 35 class. Whitfield is a former Stanford wide receiver and safety who played in three Rose Bowl Games, and his father Bob was a consensus All-America selection at offensive line in 1991 with the Cardinal.
Deatrick joined the Stanford staff following the 2022 season and has led the Cardinal’s sports performance staff over the last three seasons. With over a decade of experience, Deatrick has previous stops at Iowa State, South Dakota State, Houston, and Sacramento State.