David Taylor’s bid to capture the 86 kg Olympic freestyle gold came to a crushing end at the hands of Aaron Brooks. After falling short in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials, Taylor retired from competition and began his coaching journey. The 33-year-old quickly hit the jackpot, landing a job as the nation’s highest-paid freestyle wrestling coach at Oklahoma State. However, it seems Taylor’s competitive ambitions have resurfaced once again.

The OSU coach announced he’ll be returning to competition at the U.S. World Team Trials this weekend. However, not everyone in the wrestling world found the announcement exciting. “I think it’s a bad look. You take one of the three biggest jobs in the country, and you’re not doing it full-time???” one fan asked Taylor on X. However, OSU has their head coach’s back.

The official OSU Cowboy Wrestling page voiced their support for coach Taylor on Instagram. “We’re behind you, Coach.” read the caption of the post, where Oklahoma’s Athletic Director Chad Weiberg endorsed David Taylor’s move. “I think it’s a great thing any time that we can put the brand of the program out in the wrestling world,” said Weiberg.

Unlike the skeptics, Vice President Weiberg saw it as an opportunity. As head coach, the Olympic gold medalist will reflect positively on the wrestling program at Oklahoma State. Any mishaps will be a learning opportunity Taylor can implement to further improve the program. “For our team here to see him competing and doing the things to get ready to compete, it only makes what’s happening in our room better,” added OSU’s Athletic Director since 2021.

However, this time David Taylor is switching things up. Instead of immediately reigniting his rivalry with Hassan Yazdani, the three-time world champion is moving up an entire weight class. Magic Man will compete in the U.S. World Team Trials at 92 kg. Yet, that doesn’t mean the former Penn State athlete won’t have a rival. On the contrary, a 92 kg rival is waiting in the wings.

At the 2022 trials, Taylor dominated fellow Team USA wrestler Zahid Valencia. However, that bout took place at 86 kg, and Valencia went on to win 92 kg bronze at worlds in 2023. So, Magic Man’s entry into the weight class could reignite their rivalry. Yet, besides immediately finding a rival, the former Olympic champion might also find himself in the top spot.

How David Taylor could enter the Team Trails as the top-seeded wrestler

The fans who didn’t sound pleased after learning Taylor would multitask as a coach and competitor won’t be happy to learn that the wrestler doesn’t even have to step on the mat to become the #1 seed at 92 kg. How? Well, all Taylor has to do is weigh in at 92 kg on Saturday morning. If the freestyle wrestling icon makes weight, he’ll automatically earn his post as the top seed.

David Taylor meets the unique criteria that help an individual “receive an automatic #1 seed at the 2024 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.” according to the World Team Trials rule set. The OSU head coach is once again the defending world champion at 86 kg. Since he has registered to compete in the adjacent weight class, the rules will allow him the #1 spot. The only other requirement is making weight.

The former Nittany Lions Wrestling Club member faced disappointment at the 2024 Olympic Trails. However, he may have realized that retiring was a hasty decision. So the Tokyo 2020 gold medalist will return to competition at the MECA – CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 14, with OSU’s support.