It’s been almost a year since David Taylor traded his singlet for a coaching whistle at Oklahoma State, and let’s just say—he’s still bringing that star power to the mat. When OSU handed him the keys to the wrestling program, skeptics raised an eyebrow (or two). Could the former Olympian, fresh off a tough miss for Paris 2024, really take over for a legend like John Smith? And let’s not forget—Taylor wasn’t even a Cowboy back in his wrestling days. A Penn State guy stepping into a world where Cael Sanderson ruled? The doubters were loud. Fast forward to today, and they’ve all gone radio silent.

Why? Because Taylor did something neither Smith nor Sanderson pulled off in year one. His squad showed up and played out at the 2024 NCAA DI Championships, snagging two individual titles. Dean Hamiti (174 lbs) and Wyatt Hendrickson (285 lbs) didn’t just meet expectations—they crushed them, bringing home national gold. That’s more than OSU’s GOAT or Penn State’s mastermind managed in their rookie coaching campaigns. And as if that wasn’t enough, Taylor’s magic touch just earned him an $80,000 boost—a well-deserved payday to cap off a mic-drop of a debut season.

Wrestling’s very own MatBoy, Seth Duckworth—the guy who knows the sport like the back of his hand and even snagged the 2021 NWMA Wrestling Journalist of the Year title—dropped some exciting news on X on March 23. And let’s just say, Oklahoma State’s head coach David Taylor isn’t just stacking wins, he’s stacking cash too! Duckworth spilled the tea, saying, “Per his contract, David Taylor will receive $80,000 in bonuses for OSU’s performance at the NCAA Tournament. $60,000 for the third-place team finish and $10,000 for each NCAA Champion.”

That’s right—Taylor’s debut season wasn’t just a flex on the doubters, it came with a hefty payday. The man walked into OSU’s legendary wrestling program, flipped the script, and now he’s cashing in on every victory. Two NCAA champs? Cha–ching. A third-place team finish? More dollars in the bank. Looks like Taylor isn’t just coaching his guys to dominate—he’s proving that hard work pays, literally!

David Taylor and his squad weren’t just making noise—they were shaking up the wrestling world! While Taylor continued proving his magic touch in the coaching realm, Dean Hamiti was busy rewriting narratives. Keegan O’Toole came in as the guy to beat, chasing his third straight NCAA title. But déjà vu hit hard. Last year, it was David Carr who stopped his run. This time? It was Oklahoma State’s own Dean Hamiti, flipping the script with a 4-1 sudden victory.

And just when you thought the night couldn’t get wilder, Wyatt Hendrickson stepped up and dropped what might be the biggest bombshell in NCAA wrestling history. The heavyweight showdown saw Olympic champ Gable Steveson looking untouchable—until Hendrickson pulled off the unthinkable. Down 4-2, he landed the only takedown Steveson had given up all season, sealing a jaw-dropping 5-4 win. And guess what? Even Daniel Cormier—former Cowboy All-American and UFC heavyweight champ—had to give David Taylor his flowers!

David Taylor gets praised by former UFC heavyweight champ!

David Taylor was deep in his post-semifinal interview at the NCAA Championships when—boom—he got a surprise cameo from none other than Daniel Cormier. The former Cowboy All-American and UFC heavyweight champ, who was calling the action for ESPN, wasn’t about to let Taylor’s moment slide without some love. Mid-answer, Taylor found himself getting a friendly chest slap as Cormier jumped in with pure hype mode.

“Three in the finals, Coach? Hey, we back,” Cormier said, turning to the media with that signature fire. “Let me tell you something. This man right here, he’s bringing us back. We gonna get a title. We gonna get ‘em.” And he wasn’t wrong. OSU had three wrestlers fighting for glory on Saturday night, with Dean Hamiti (174 lbs) and Wyatt Hendrickson (heavyweight) sealing the deal as national champions.

The Cowboys locked in a third-place team finish with 102.5 points, trailing only Nebraska and the powerhouse Penn State squad. And just like that, David Taylor—once the star on the mat—kept proving he’s got that magic touch as a coach too!