If you are an avid wrestling fan who closely follows the NCAA scene, you might remember how shocked everyone was when David Taylor was declared as the head coach of the Cowboys. He came to OKSU on a six-year contract and around $6.5 million for his full tenure. However, the question was whether he would be able to live up to the hype and maintain the 33-year legacy left behind by former coach John Smith.

So, the moment he took on the role, there were a ton of responsibilities on his shoulders. However, he did live up to the anticipation from the wrestling community. In no time, he became a fan favorite, and many praised him for the way he trained his wrestlers. With recent data, the OKSU achieved a new feat, and this proved the worth of having Taylor as their head coach.

The Cowboys making their mark

It has been months since the Cowboys started wrestling in the 2024-25 season. And David Taylor’s team has been on a roll. They are on a 12-win streak that consists of 7 home victories and 5 away ones. This is nothing but utter domination by Taylor’s squad, and many of his wrestlers are capable of catching that championship in months to come.

So, the way the wrestlers performed in each game, the attendance of the crowd increased. Especially the home matches at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which has a seating capacity of 13,611, saw an average of 7,597 people in attendance, as revealed on an X post by the official profile of the wrestling program. This surely is a new program record set by Taylor’s OKSU, and the fans couldn’t be prouder of him.

Wrestling has its own audience, but owing to the head coach’s training, it has raised the bar among the fans. And why wouldn’t he be appreciated? He deserves every bit of it! But what about the ticket sales? Since the Cowboys had seven home games, they have already accumulated a whopping $1.33 million.

So what’s the catch around this? If you remember Taylor’s contract, it is a six-year deal with different annual salaries and extra bonuses from the team, depending on his performance. For his first season with the Cowboys, he will be getting $1,000,000. This amount will be followed by a $30,000 raise every campaign. But what about the bonuses?

Taylor will receive $125,000 if he wins the NCAA championships with the Cowboys. For the team runner-up, Taylor will receive $80,000, and for the third-place finish, he will get $60,000. He will also be awarded for each individual champion, which will be an amount of $10,000. Apart from just the money, he is actually determined for his journey with the Cowboys as a head coach, and the management is also trying to maximize the revenue they can derive from their wrestlers.

David Taylor made OKSU invest for good

During the start of the 2024-25 season, Oklahoma State University made a big investment, bringing a three-part web series titled “TRADITION CONTINUES: A New Era for Cowboy Wrestling” to life. They had a clear vision to make the fans focus on the wrestlers and everything around their program, which has been enhanced with the arrival of David Taylor on their team. As three episodes were produced, it also covered the legacy that John Smith left in the hands of the Olympic champion who became their coach this season.

Furthermore, Taylor received a significant introduction in episode 1, which debuted on November 21, 2024. The whole episode was dedicated towards him, as his arrival was one of the biggest ones in the Cowboys’ history after their old coach retired. And the other two episodes were no less special.

Episodes 2 and 3, which aired on December 5, 2024, and December 19, 2024, respectively, featured the wrestlers that are battling on the mat wearing the singlet of the Cowboys. The web series was also exclusive to OSU Max, which is the official streaming home of Oklahoma State Athletics. From the moment Taylor set foot on the campus, he made a promise that, under his tenure, he would push the Cowboys to their limits. With the season ongoing, it looks like he is keeping up with his promises, but time will tell if he and his wrestlers will be able to grab that NCAA championship.