David Taylor’s Major Impact On Cowboys Style Revealed as Support Staff Opens to Recent Changes

A fabled tale of flair and labor down the drain! This is something David Taylor must have felt after his 2024 Olympic dream was cut short owing to back-to-back setbacks at the U.S. Olympic Trials. That had to sting! Before all this, Taylor had mentioned possibly moving into MMA once he was done with wrestling. But after his shock loss, he had some time to reflect, and that’s when he realized it was time for something new.

Instead of fighting or sticking with wrestling as a competitor, he decided to take a completely different route. In May 2024, he took on the head coaching job at Oklahoma State, replacing the legendary John Smith, who retired after an amazing 33 years. And how’s everyone feeling about it? Well, it seems like Oklahoma State is pumped to have him as a two-time Greco All-American wrestler recently revealed.

Impact of Taylor’s arrival at Oklahoma State Wrestling

Oklahoma State athletics recently shared a video on their YouTube channel titled “Oklahoma State Wrestling with Tyler Caldwell – Orange Power Podcast,” featuring an interview with Tyler Caldwell, a four-time Kansas state high school champion from Goddard High School and who is currently into his eighth-season on staff at Oklahoma State.

During the discussion, the host asked Caldwell about the shift in leadership within the program and how David Taylor’s arrival as head coach had impacted the team. Caldwell emphasized the significance of Taylor’s hiring, noting, “When you have a 33-year-old [in experience] legendary head coach like John Smith, there’s no better name to follow up with than David Taylor, and it’s obviously gone really well.”

Caldwell also reflected on the broader impact of Taylor’s hiring, stating, “I think it turned the wrestling world upside down. It was something the wrestling world probably didn’t see coming or didn’t think would happen, and everyone’s excited and thankful it did.” The enthusiasm surrounding Taylor’s leadership continues to build, fueled by his gold medal and rock-solid wrestling credentials.

Oklahoma State’s wrestling program is steeped in tradition and holds the distinction of being the most successful NCAA Division I athletic program in any sport. As of the 2023–24 academic year, the team boasts 34 team national championships, 143 NCAA individual champions, and 488 All-Americans. Their all-time combined record—an astounding 1185-140-23—speaks volumes about the program’s dominance and legacy. With such a remarkable history, Taylor faces immense expectations to uphold and further elevate the program.

Taylor’s transition from a wrestler to a coach was unconventional, especially coming on the heels of a difficult loss. However, he wasted no time proving his worth as a leader and innovator. However, Taylor surprised the world with more than one account in recent memory.

David Taylor’s surprising return to wrestling

David Taylor shocked the world by returning to competitive wrestling in September and his story went in an unexpected direction. When Taylor declared his new position as Oklahoma State’s head coach in May, he emerged victorious at the 92-kg class at the United States Senior World Team Trials in September.

This win entailed him an opportunity to compete for the U.S. at Senior World Championships in Albania where he could make it four. Nevertheless, Taylor was still not willing to go full blast and said he needed more time for preparation and that he had other activities as a coach. “I want to win if I’m going, but I need to train at a championship level, and that requires a lot of focus,” Taylor explained.

Some of Taylor’s wrestlers might have been shocked when he went back to wrestling and yet that decision has brought him the enthusiasm he needs in the sport. At the donor event, Taylor disclosed that this new coaching position had helped to reignite his passion for wrestling and this has helped boost the success of Oklahoma State.

Taylor has emphasized that Oklahoma State is becoming a destination for the best in the world, saying, “You want to be the best in the country? You want to be the best in the world? This is a destination that you’re going to seek out.” So, going to the World Team Trials was a method of giving an example for wrestlers that what they work on every day is sufficient to achieve success at the world level.

And there too he dominated. But now the question arises, will Taylor be the coach to keep Oklahoma State wrestling on top? Only time will tell, but it’s clear that the future of the program is in exciting hands. How do you see Taylor doing at OSU in the coming years? Will he be able to carve out a legacy as rich as his wrestling career? Tell us in the comment section below!