Former Stanford head football coach Troy Taylor said his dismissal last month was “without cause” and that his portrayal in the media of bullying staff members has been “unfair, wrong and contrary to my professional track record” in a statement issued Wednesday.

Taylor was fired by Stanford and new Cardinal general manager Andrew Luck in the wake of an embarrassing ESPN report that the coach had twice been investigated for his demeaning treatment of staffers — particularly women — during his two seasons at the school. The first investigation ended with a February 2024 signed statement that Taylor knew he could be fired if his conduct continued. He remained in the job even though both probes found his behavior was not up to Stanford’s standards.

Both of the investigations were completed before Luck, the former Stanford quarterback, took his position last fall. Earlier this month, the Cardinal hired former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich as their interim coach for the year.

Taylor, a former star quarterback at Cal, arrived at Stanford in 2023 to replace David Shaw after going 30-8 in three seasons at Sacramento State. Taylor’s Cardinal teams went 3-9 both seasons. Stanford hasn’t won more than four games in any of the past six seasons and has struggled to adjust in the era of name, image and likeness (NIL) payments and the transfer portal.

When Taylor was let go, Luck said the program needed a “reset” and that “in consultation with university leadership, I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football program.”

Wednesday, Taylor acknowledged both investigations, but denied any wrongdoing and said he never received copies of the reports. Quotes from the reports were used in the ESPN story that first revealed Taylor had been twice investigated by the school. He also said Stanford is honoring his contract and noted that he was given a raise shortly after the first investigation, then asked to forfeit it after the second probe.

The statement was posted on the social media platform X by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.

“I stand by my effort to lead with integrity at Stanford and elsewhere and to build a winning team and culture that is inclusive and respectful of everyone,” Taylor wrote in part in the statement.

Here is the complete statement by Taylor:

For 30 years, I have been a coach and educator at the high school and collegiate level. I have had great team success with every program that I have coached, without a single issue or complaint around my treatment of others. I applied the same approach and values to a Stanford program dealing with some upheaval.

A private workplace investigation was recently improperly disclosed to local and national media. The investigation that took place in June 2023 was conducted due to a complaint from an athletic administrator that claimed that I tried to remove her as our football administrator for an unfair reason. Although I disagreed with the complaint, I took it seriously and fully cooperated. The investigation, which I still have never seen, concluded that I did not act unfairly. On February 29, 2024, Stanford gave me a contract extension and raise because I was told we were building something special.

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Later, in March 2024, a second complaint was made by a member of the compliance office regarding a discussion about the physical speed at which Stanford players could participate in a walk-through. This was resolved in July 2024. Two other witnesses (one male and one female) were present during the initial discussion about the speed at which players could participate in a walk-through. Both told me at the time that my behavior was appropriate.

Nevertheless, I willingly complied with the second investigation, this time based on this brief interaction. Based on the investigator’s conclusion related to this interaction, which I disagreed with, Stanford asked that I forfeit an agreed upon raise and change my tone. I accepted Stanford’s demand last summer for the sake of the team. I was not shown the private and confidential second report that was also improperly disclosed to ESPN recently. I’ve not been the subject of any other complaints or investigations since this investigation ended last summer.

The media’s recent portrayal of me is unfair, wrong, and contrary to my professional track record and the person I am and have always been. The truth is that Stanford terminated me without cause and, as a result, is honoring the original payment terms of my contract. I stand by my effort to lead with integrity at Stanford and elsewhere and to build a winning team and culture that is inclusive and respectful of everyone. I strongly believe in the players, coaches, and staff currently at Stanford. While I am disappointed that Stanford has now decided that I am no longer the right person to lead the football team, I am grateful for my time at Stanford and wish Stanford and the football team all the best.”