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.

“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.

— Laurence Miedema

NFL

49ers practice squad player suspended >> 49ers practice squad offensive lineman Isaac Alarcon was suspended for the first six games of the upcoming season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Alarcon will be able to participate in the offseason program, training camp and exhibitions before the suspension starts.

Alarcon has never played in a regular-season game since entering the league out of Mexico as part of the international pathway program with Dallas in 2020.

Alarcon spent last season on the practice squad for the 49ers after playing 43 snaps in the preseason. He was re-signed earlier this offseason by San Francisco.

Raiders’ Crosby an assistant GM at alma mater >> Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby has become the latest professional athlete to take a side gig as a front-office executive with a college athletic program, becoming the assistant general manager for the Eastern Michigan football team.

The school announced this week that Crosby, who signed a record-breaking three-year extension worth $106.5 million with the Raiders last month, would help evaluate high school and transfer portal prospects, manage the team’s NIL and revenue sharing budget, and assist the athletic director with fundraising, alumni relations and student-athlete support.

Crosby is just the latest active professional athlete to take an administrative role with a college, including Stephen Curry, who accepted an assistant GM role at Davidson.

Men’s basketball

Duke freshman Knueppel enters NBA draft >> Duke’s Kon Knueppel is heading to the NBA after one college season.

The 6-foot-7, 217-pound wing announced his decision after a season that included him being named MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament while helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as the team’s No. 2 scorer behind AP national player of the year Cooper Flagg.

Knueppel is the first member of Duke’s touted freshman class to go pro. He’s widely projected as a lottery pick.

Knueppel is an efficient, floor-spacing scorer who shot 47.9% from the field, 40.6% from 3-point range and 91.4% from the foul line.