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 things have settled down nicely. He’s feeling excited about the current team and the recruits coming in, mentioning that there’s some serious momentum building around the program.

Transitioning into coaching hasn’t been without its challenges, and Taylor admits it took some getting used to. “You just learn, you just got to adjust,” he said, giving a shout-out to his OSU team for being super supportive as he navigates this new path. With the season on the horizon, he’s especially pumped about transfers like Wyatt Hendrickson, who he described as engaged and hungry to make an impact. “They’re engaged, they’re focused, they’re hungry, you know?” It’s clear that Taylor is ready to mold this talent and drive them toward success.

In a fun moment during the press conference, Taylor shared some surprises he’s encountered in his new role, particularly around scheduling. “Yeah, I didn’t know there was so much flexibility in scheduling,” he admitted, revealing that he’s still figuring things out. As he humorously confronted the traditions of rival schools like Oklahoma, noting their unusual decision to limit matchups, Taylor’s journey is filled with surprises and a touch of humor. Even though this coaching gig is a first for him, Taylor’s enthusiasm and commitment are shining bright, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead!