Tsuyoshi Kawata

Tsuyoshi Kawata (“TK”) has been a member of the Cardinal offensive staff since his arrival at Stanford, and the 2024 season is his 18th on The Farm. He works with the Cardinal running backs. 
 
During this time, he has made invaluable contributions to Stanford’s running game by incorporating advanced statistical analysis and preparing customized strategic reports in advance of each game. Kawata is a pioneer in the use of this particular brand of advanced statistical analysis in NCAA football. The Cardinal offensive staff relies on Kawata’s sophisticated analyses and detailed preparation to optimize the team’s on-field performance.
 
Kawata is regarded as the foremost expert on American football in Japan. He is a de facto ambassador of the sport credited with improving the quality of play and strategy in that country. He appears regularly on Japanese television as an NFL game commentator. Since 2011, he is a recognized member of the Super Bowl commentary for the live broadcast to Japan. He has authored numerous articles on American football published in top Japanese journals. In 2015, he was the All-Japan National Team assistant head coach and offensive play-caller.  He is credited with leading the team to a silver medal at the 2015 IFAF World Championship.
 
Prior to coming to Stanford, Kawata served in various capacities with the OBIC Seagulls of the Japanese League from 1999-2006, including as offensive coordinator (2004-06) and assistant head coach (2005-06). He also played on the Seagulls offensive line from 1995 to 2003 and he contributed to Japan National Team winning the first Football World Cup in Palermo, Italy (1999). He earned all-Japan League honors three times during his playing career.
 
A native of Tokyo, Japan, Kawata earned a bachelor degree in economics from JOSAI University in Japan, where he was also a two-time all-conference football selection. Kawata has been the director and organizer of youth football clinics at the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan, since 2013.