Not just David Taylor, but there is another promising retired wrestler like him, or, you can say, his former teammate, who is now a part of the Oklahoma State Cowboys alongside him. After gaining success for 15 years as a wrestler, he found his way, taking on a new role as an assistant coach of the Cowboys. So who is it?

You must have guessed by now that the Cowboys recently appointed Thomas Gilman, a former teammate of David Taylor. From performing on the same team at Nittany Lions Wrestling Club to coaching together in the Cowboys, they have come a long way. Away from his zone for some time, the retired wrestler has found his way back to his old routine, with the Cowboys providing the biggest boost.

Thomas Gilman returns to wrestling with the Cowboys

Thomas Gilman has Cowboys to thank for making one of the major decisions of his life, which was to return to wrestling. Joining David Taylor’s team, the former wrestler is now emerging as both a coach and continuing forward his career as part of them. Keeping both roles in hand, the wrestler cum coach, while preparing his wrestlers, is practicing himself to train in the upcoming match, which is said to be his first after the return.

Right after the Iowa State and Oklahoma State dual scheduled for January 26, Gilman will also be seen making his unexpected return on the mat once again. The Oklahoma State assistant coach will perform in the freestyle exhibition against Iowa State Cyclones wrestling club wrestler Reineri Ortega. Sharing the official announcement on his X account, the assistant coach wrote, “Not retired.”

This wouldn’t be the first time that the two would fight each other as they have previously met in Pan Ams in 2018 and 2020. Thomas Gilman managed to bag the silver medal during the Pan Ams in 2018 held in Lima, Peru. The two met in 57 kgs weight class in the semi-finals, and Gilman was just coming off two wins by tech fall. But as luck would have it, Gilman dropped a hard-fought 7-4 decision to the 2017 U23 World Champion.

Walking into the 2020 Pan Ams, Gilman must’ve wanted to take his revenge, and he did in the 57 kg weight class. He won over Ortega with a 4-3 lead. What he does in the upcoming match is what all the viewers are excited about.

As a former Iowa Hawkeyes player, the announcement of his comeback that too with the Cowboys team comes promising, with David Taylor’s coaching already adding a strong impact on the team. After all, both coaches have come out of their retirement as wrestlers. Initially, Magic Man had announced his retirement back in May 2024 after being eliminated at the US Olympic Trails for Paris 2024. 

But it was not easy for the 202o Tokyo Olympics gold medalist to keep his inner fire from burning after he witnessed the action in the French capital. He returned to the mat, and he won the national trail at 92 kg and was set to compete in the non-Olympic weight class at the World Wrestling Championship in Tirana, Albania. And boy did the head coach not disappoint as he bagged a bronze medal in the 92 kg weight class.

But coming back to Gilman. After he joined the team of No. 3 OSU Cowboys as an assistant coach, his career achievements have now come into discussion.

Gilman’s career comes promising

It was Thomas Gilman‘s wrestling career that gave him the opportunity to his first official role alongside David Taylor, a renowned NCAA coach of today. Throughout his professional career as a wrestler, the success achieved by him has been immense as part of two of the renowned wrestling programs of today.

A four-year stint in the Iowa Hawkeyes, Gilman’s coming off with an impressive 100-9 record ended his career under the team as a 3rd place finisher while carrying an 84.5% bonus rate in the first three seasons. Not just in third place, but with three All-American titles, he was a key player on the team’s roster that gave him a boost forward as a freestyle wrestler departing from his collegiate days.

After ending his NCAA days on quite a fruitful note, it was then his time to represent internationally. From a bronze medal win in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics to earning a gold medal at the 2021 UWW Senior World Championships held in Norway while representing the United States at 57 kg, he has done it all. Gilman then went forward, finding his way with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. As a wrestling member, he met David Taylor and competed as teammates.

But it was in the Oklahoma State Cowboys that the retired wrestler found solace in taking over a new role. Coupling with Taylor again, his additions to the Cowboys, however, gave him an opportunity that he couldn’t have thought about. But while maintaining his coaching era, Gilman’s wrestling era, which is back on the mat once again, will be quite the show for his fans.