David Taylor, the “Magic Man,” may have clinched gold in Tokyo, but his journey hit a bump on the road to Paris after being knocked out at the U.S. Olympic Trials. However, his story is far from over. In just two weeks, he’ll get another shot at redemption in Albania. But even off the mat, Taylor is still making waves after stepping into the head coach role at Oklahoma State University earlier this year.

It’s no surprise that every rising wrestling star dreams of training under David Taylor’s legendary guidance. But here’s the real question: Can students from outside Oklahoma or those who haven’t officially joined the program yet also jump at the chance to train under him? Well, Taylor himself has just spilled the answer!

In a recent chat with Christian Pyles, the Content Director at FloWrestling, David Taylor opened up about the wild world of recruiting in college wrestling. When asked about the ethics of recruiting wrestlers who have verbally committed but haven’t officially signed, Taylor didn’t hold back, calling it “a bit of a Wild West.”

Taylor admitted that the landscape is constantly shifting and evolving, and teams have to keep up with the changes. David Taylor went on to explain that Oklahoma State stepped into the recruiting game late, but with a lot of momentum. “People are excited about Oklahoma State. They want to come here,” he said, making it clear that even if they didn’t recruit certain athletes from the start, the door is always open for those eager to join the program.

David Taylor emphasized that the program is all about growth and development, regardless of when or how a wrestler gets involved. “It goes both ways,” the Magic Man added, noting that recruiting is a two-way street. While they weren’t going to chase after athletes who were already committed elsewhere, they also wouldn’t turn away talent that was excited about being part of the Oklahoma State legacy.

In David’s view, it’s all just part of the game, and being adaptable is the name of it. But while he’s out here discussing recruiting, the excitement of the college NCAA is on the horizon—and this time, it’s his first NCAA experience, but from the sidelines as a coach!

David Taylor steps off the mat and into the coach’s corner

As the 2024 NCAA wrestling season kicks off, there’s a ton of buzz about David Taylor stepping into his new role as head coach. At a press conference on October 14, he shared how things have been shaping up for the OSU wrestling program. “There was a lot of things going on, you know? A lot of moving pieces,” he said, but eventually things settled down nicely. And indeed, Taylor is feeling excited about the current team and the recruits coming in, mentioning that there’s some serious momentum building around the program.

No doubt transitioning into coaching hasn’t been a walk in the park for Taylor, but he’s finding his groove. “You just learn, you just got to adjust,” he shared, giving a nod to his supportive OSU team as they help him navigate this new path. With the season around the corner, he’s hyped about transfers like Wyatt Hendrickson, who he described as focused and eager to make an impact. “They’re engaged, they’re focused, they’re hungry, you know?” Taylor’s excitement to shape this talent and drive them toward success is clear.

During a light-hearted moment, Taylor disclosed that scheduling was one of the surprises in his new position. He laughed and said, “I didn’t know there was so much flexibility,” admitting that he’s still learning the ropes. He even made light of some rival customs, such as Oklahoma’s decision to restrict games, demonstrating how unexpected and humorous his journey has been. Even though this is his first season as a coach, Taylor’s enthusiasm and commitment are evident, and the season looks to be an interesting one!