David Taylor releases first statement after being named Oklahoma State wrestling head coach

David Taylor broke his silence late Monday night after he was named Oklahoma State’s newest wrestling head coach.

Taylor will replace the retired John Smith, considered one of the greatest American wrestlers and coaches in the sport’s history. As for Taylor, whom they call the “Magic Man,” he’ll take his first coaching job at the collegiate level down in Stillwater.

The 2021 Olympic Gold Medalist broke his silence for the first time since this year’s Trials after the news was released.

“Forever grateful for my Penn State family, I am looking forward to this new chapter with (Oklahoma State Wrestling),” Taylor wrote on Twitter.

Taylor won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 at 86 KG. He’s also a three-time World Champion and won a Silver Medal at the 2021 World Championships.

Taylor was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist while at Penn State. His losses in the finals came to Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State) and Kyle Dake (Cornell). Ironically, Jenkins was at Penn State but transferred to ASU when Sanderson arrived in 2010.

Taylor was in contention to go to the 2024 Paris Games this summer but was defeated at the Olympic Trials. In the best-of-three finals, Taylor was outlasted in two matches by Aaron Brooks, who just won his fourth NCAA title for Penn State back in March.

Smith was Oklahoma State’s all-time winningest coach with a dual record of 490-73-6. His 490 dual wins is the most among active coaches and third overall at the Division I level, only behind Harold Nichols and Dale Thomas. Smith joined Nichols and Thomas as the only Division I head coaches to reach even 450 career dual wins.

The outgoing legend improved Oklahoma State during his final season. With how 2024 ended, Taylor might be set up for a lot of success in March of 2025, next year’s NCAA Tournament.

“It has been an honor to coach for more than 32 years at the same institution,” Smith said. “I can’t even begin to tell you what Oklahoma State has done for me, my wife, my immediate family and brothers and sisters who all graduated from OSU. My journey started at age 17 here at Oklahoma State and it has allowed me to accomplish everything I ever wanted.”