“You know, is it worth, you know, being a part of a, you know, being a head coach of a program like that, or, you know, are there other things that I want to do in my life?” Kyle Dake didn’t hesitate to get real when asked if he’d ever follow the coaching path of David Taylor. With Taylor now at the helm of Oklahoma State, the natural question is whether Dake sees a future in leading a Division I program. But for Dake, it’s not just about stepping into a role; it’s about deciding where his impact matters most.
Coaching might be on the table, but it’s clear he’s weighing the bigger picture of legacy, life, and love for the sport. Dake’s passion goes beyond folk-style coaching. He’s been vocal about pushing Greco-Roman wrestling forward in the U.S., calling for more visibility, investment, and grassroots support. And with a family that’s been instrumental in his rise. From Cornell University wrestling program dominance to four straight world titles. It’s no surprise he’s thinking long term.
“Will we ever see Kyle Dake be a D1 head coach?” That was the question posed by FloWrestling in a recent post on X, accompanying a video of Dake opening up about his future. Kyle Dake has always carried a quiet ambition to coach, a dream rooted deep since his college days. “I thought I was going to be the head coach of Cornell wrestling,” he says, reflecting on a plan that once felt inevitable.
Will we ever see Kyle Dake be a D1 head coach? #frl pic.twitter.com/5C1iZBi8QJ
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 4, 2025
Back then, coaching wasn’t just an option. It was the goal. But life, as Dake candidly puts it, happened. With a growing family, a demanding athletic career, and new opportunities unfolding, that singular path has widened. Now in State College, surrounded by a high-performance environment, Dake finds himself in a new season of reflection.
Still, he’s seen the blueprint up close. Training around coaching giants like Rob Cole, Mike Gray, and now Cael Sanderson, Dake understands the level of sacrifice involved. “They’re always on… never really having an off day,” he notes. That level of commitment. Balancing recruits, alumni, and the endless maze of NIL and phone calls isn’t lost on him. Yet the part that still lights a fire?
The hands-on moments. “Well, I really enjoyed working one-on-one with guys,” he shares, hinting that while a full-time head coaching gig may not be in his immediate plans, his influence on the next generation is far from finished. And that’s perhaps why Dake is thinking even bigger than the D1 model. He’s invested in shaping the future of wrestling from the roots, starting with Greco-Roman at the youth and high school levels.
“The Greco guys that we have are excellent athletes… There are many great people in the sport.” For him, it’s not just about building champions at the college level. It’s about expanding the foundation. “There’s a big need for coaches at the youth level… You’ll get better at skills, but two, you’ll get twice as many matches.” That’s legacy-building on a national scale. His vision isn’t just aspirational. It’s necessary.
From Kyle Dake’s personal grief to a national mission
At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Kyle Dake delivered a clinical performance, defeating Jason Nolf twice to punch his ticket to the Paris Olympics. He first won 4-1, then backed it up with a 3-1 victory in the rematch. But behind the triumph was a heart heavy with grief. Just nine days before his dominant display, Dake lost his father. The man who introduced him to the sport.
Fighting back emotion after securing his spot on the Olympic team, Dake shared, “I wish he were here; you know, I wanted to do him proud… I actually miss him.” That raw vulnerability wasn’t just a glimpse into his pain. It was a testament to how deeply wrestling, for Dake, has always been about more than accolades. The mat is his sanctuary, and that win, though golden, was grounded in something even more meaningful: remembrance.
While Dake was navigating one of the most emotional moments of his career, USA Wrestling was busy igniting a movement of its own. In December, the organization launched the “Grow Greco” campaign, a year-long fundraising effort focused on breathing new life into Greco-Roman wrestling in America. Spearheaded by the U.S. Greco-Roman coaching staff, the goal is ambitious. It is to raise $250,000 to fund developmental camps, international competition opportunities, and grassroots growth initiatives across the country.
America should be thankful to Kyle Dake’s parents, not just for raising a champion, but for laying a foundation that helped shape one of the most versatile wrestlers of this generation. In a video with USA Wrestling, Dake reflected, “I had a great foundation with my parents taking me to wrestling practice and tournaments and also having great coaches that emphasized Greco as a part of our curriculum.” That early exposure didn’t just help him win matches.
It built the instincts and adaptability that would lead to Olympic bronze in both 2020 and 2024. And in the conversation about growing Greco, Dake’s journey becomes a blueprint. With the right guidance, structure, and investment, young athletes across the country can find their own path to the podium, just like the kid from Ithaca who turned parental support and Greco fundamentals into global success.
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