David Taylor Bagging Two Elite Wrestlers to Coaching Roster Might Be Penn State’s Demise

Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith dropped a bombshell on April 2 announcing his retirement. In a week, the college’s Director of Athletics, Chad Weiberg, confirmed David Taylor as the seventh head coach in the program’s tenure. Taylor is an Olympic gold medalist, a three-time world champion, and a Penn State alum with one of the most exceptional portfolios in wrestling history.

However, Taylor was just one of the most bankable prospects being considered by Oklahoma State. Following the historic move to hire Taylor, the Cowboys now have two more wrangling stars on staff as the team begins to take form and gain chrysalis.

David Taylor dons head coach hat with two formidable right-hand men as well

After Smith left as one of the sport’s finest coaches, Coleman Scott took over as interim head coach at Oklahoma State. In no time, one day after David Taylor’s official announcement, new Oklahoma State staff was quickly revealed on Twitter by @JustinJBasch, who wrote: “Oklahoma State also officially announces the hiring of @thomasgilmanusa as Assistant Coach under Taylor.“ Jimmy Kennedy and Thomas Gilman have been formally confirmed as associate head coach and assistant coach, respectively. Kennedy will be Taylor’s right hand.

Oklahoma State hired three new staff members for the season in what appeared to be a hasty move. Chad Weiberg, after sharing a plethora of well-put expectations from the Olympian and new head coach, said, “Replacing a legend like  is a daunting task. He has been the face of Oklahoma State wrestling nearly four decades. In many ways, David has had a similar path in becoming our head coach.” Before the new job, Taylor operated the M2 Training Center, which he founded to assist wrestlers in developing and meeting their objectives on and off the mat while competing internationally.

When asked about recent recruits, Taylor noted, “Jimmy is a coach that everyone wants on their team.“ According to Taylor, “He not only scraps with kids and can lay the hammer down, but he’s also someone who just really cares about the well-being of the athletes.” On the other side, she says “Thomas is one of those people that elevates others around him.“ Taylor also added, “I can’t wait to see him grow into his role as a coach.” With the change comes the hopes of the Cowboys fans. Will all three recruits live up to the expectations?

Know the portfolios of the Cowboys’ new wrestling staff

Oklahoma State’s all-time winningest coach, John Smith, is a dual record of 490-73-6. His 490 dual wins put him third all-time at the Division I level and even the most among current coaches. So, in contrast, what does the new staff bring to the table? Given Taylor’s lack of coaching expertise, stepping in Smith’s shoes is preparing the wrestling fans for an upset many fans believe is inevitable. However, having spent his whole career under Cael Sanderson, he might be fit for the position. Taylor won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 86 kg. He is also a 2x NCAA champion at Penn State.

As for Taylor’s team, Kennedy was a three-time All-American wrestler at Illinois and represented Team USA at the World Championships in 2014. Kennedy has worked as an assistant coach at Penn State for three seasons. Before joining Penn State, he worked as an assistant coach at Northwestern, where he began volunteering in 2019. On the other hand, Gilman was laser-focused on international success, winning a World Silver Medal in 2017 and a total of four medals throughout his career. He also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Kennedy and Gilman are just the first two cogs of an inexorable juggernaut under Taylor at Oklahoma State, with more sure to follow.