Under the guidance of first-year head coach David Taylor, the Oklahoma State Cowboys showcased a noteworthy performance at the 2024-25 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The excitement was justifiable, given that the Cowboys were led by an Olympic champion at the helm. It’s no surprise that he delivered! The pinnacle of their campaign was Wyatt Hendrickson’s extraordinary triumph in the heavyweight division, where he clinched a 5-3 decision against Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, signifying one of the most notable upsets in NCAA wrestling history.
Hendrickson marked his victory with a salute to President Donald Trump, who was present at the event. Additionally, a number of Cowboy wrestlers delivered impressive performances, with several competitors reaching the finals in their individual weight classes. This collaborative endeavor led to Oklahoma State securing a top-three position in the team rankings, reinforcing the program’s illustrious history in collegiate wrestling. And can you believe who shaped their current identity? David Taylor!
Amidst the spotlight, the Cowboys coach disclosed that none of this acclaim would have materialized had he made a different choice during a pivotal moment in his life, when he was contemplating his future without the foresight of becoming the Oklahoma State coach.
During an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, which was shared by Saturday Night Lights on X, Taylor provided insights, mentioning, “Uh, I mean, I think when it came to coaching, you know, the, the, the places that I would have been interested in just had established options. So it wasn’t something that I had a strong desire. I’d be like, like John Smith was the coach here for 33 years, my entire livelihood, since I was born, he was head coach here, you know, so the tenure of coaches in these situations, like there’s not a lot of turnover.”
John Smith’s legacy is undeniable; during his tenure, OSU clinched five NCAA team championships in 1994, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, while also fostering the rise of 33 individual national champions. He played a pivotal role in coaching more than 150 All-Americans, contributing significantly to Oklahoma State’s reputation as a dominant force in collegiate wrestling. Nevertheless, with Taylor’s arrival, expectations soared, and even he found himself taken aback by the unexpected twists life had in store for him.
The Ariel Helwani Show: Olympic champion and head coach of the Oklahoma State wrestling program David Taylor (Full Segment). pic.twitter.com/jUrZyUco3D
— Saturday Night Lights (@WrestlingSNL) March 25, 2025
“I achieved everything I wanted to do, you know, as a competitor and was starting to look at what’s next and this job was available and it was something that, uh, when looking at it was just a great opportunity, you know, for the next step, you know, in my career. And, um, I just felt that. This was an opportunity to impact wrestling at the highest level. You know, you get a chance to recruit these young athletes and develop them and help them achieve their dreams. So the ups and the downs and, um, and it’s just, I feel like it was a calling for me to do, and I’m really grateful to be here,” Taylor expressed.
The current Cowboys coach has accomplished numerous feats in his wrestling career. Nevertheless, Taylor yearned for a greater challenge, albeit in a different manner. When the chance arose for him to take on the role of the program’s coach, he seized it without hesitation. Recall the moment when his wrestler shared insights into the mentality prevalent within the Cowboys camp?
David Taylor’s wrestler opened up about the Cowboys
“Yeah, I think when you go out there in a match, and if you’re just thinking, ‘hey, I want to win this match,’ or ‘I want to go get a takedown,’ that’s not exactly what I want to hear,” stated Wyatt Hendrickson. He provided insights into the mentality within the Cowboys camp, indicating that David Taylor maintained a very strict approach to his procedures.
Moreover, Hendrickson emphasized these aspects, remarking, “I think they’ve done a great job at mentally preparing me and saying, ‘when you’re in there, don’t think about winning the match or getting a takedown. Think of you’re staying in your stance. You’re clearing ties. You’re moving.’ So it’s more position-based than outcome-based because it becomes a lot easier to take it second by second versus match by match.”
Taylor adeptly ensured that his wrestlers remained grounded and avoided the pitfalls of overconfidence. He anticipated not just a standard win on the mat, but also a commitment to learning and maximizing their performance in every competition. The Oklahoma State Cowboys delivered an impressive performance, leaving fans eager for an even stronger comeback in the upcoming season.
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