Recall the moment when David Taylor expressed, “I dreamt of wrestling for coach Cael and still to this point to have achieved every goal that I wanted to achieve and beyond and to still be doing that along with someone I looked up to is great. I’m just a small, small piece example of that.” A young athlete aspiring to emulate the legendary Cael Sanderson arrived at Penn State and accomplished numerous goals with his mentorship. Upon taking the helm at Oklahoma State, Taylor set his sights on a fresh objective. What exactly was it? To outpace Penn State and triumph over Cael Sanderson.
That certainly is a lofty goal! The Olympic champion is showcasing remarkable dominance this season, with his team experiencing just a single defeat against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the regular season. As the NCAA championships draw near, Taylor candidly shared his aspirations to outshine Penn State in the realm of college wrestling.
In a recent appearance on USA Wrestling’s YouTube channel, the coach from Oklahoma State stated, “I think we laid out a plan when I got to Oklahoma State of what we’re going to do to be successful. And I think first you’ve got to surround the guys with the best talent in the world, developing a world-level ROTC, which we’ve done in a short period of time. You’ve got to recruit. You’ve got to surround your program with the best individuals. And it takes time. It takes development. It takes hard work.”
From the outset of the 2024-25 NCAA season, Taylor showed unwavering commitment to his team. Indeed, the results clearly indicate that. With a strategic vision in place, Taylor harnessed the drive of the wrestlers within the Cowboys program to successfully realize his ambitions. Nonetheless, the journey proved to be challenging for the coach.
“This is not a six-month jobs, a nine-month job. This is a 12-month job. If there were 13 months in a year, it’s a 13-month job, you know? And I think it’s just an every day, it’s every day you’re making progress, chipping away. Just, you know, you think about being an Olympic champion, doesn’t come, doesn’t just wake up and become an Olympic champion. It takes a long time, right? It takes a day-in, day-out effort from a coaching staff. That’s the same, same mentality, same philosophy that I brought to Oklahoma,” Taylor stated.
The coach at OKSU recognizes the significant effort needed to take on Penn State for their title. He recognized that it is not a process that can be completed in a single day, emphasizing that it requires time. In conclusion, Taylor offered some encouraging remarks, stating, “So yeah, I mean, I think our, our focus has been the best program that we can be given our student-athletes, the opportunities to, perform the best that they can, surrounding them with the resources that they need. And in doing so, we’re focused on just doing what we can do.”
Taylor’s resolve is evident as his wrestlers assert their dominance on the mat. What stands out as the prime illustration? In the recent Big 12 championships, he demonstrated his ability to elevate these teams to new levels.
David Taylor proving his worth
Last year, the appointment of David Taylor as the head coach of OKSU took many by surprise. What about his contract? Taylor signed a six-year contract worth $6.45 million, extending through March 31, 2030. In his first year, he is set to earn a notable $1 million. That certainly amounts to a significant sum. He has demonstrated his value consistently, ensuring that he did not disappoint his supporters during the regular season, and continues to perform admirably in the Big 12 Championships.
Seth Duckworth covered the story on X, highlighting, “Every weight for Oklahoma State has locked in an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament except 133. Reece Witcraft will need an at-large to make the tournament.” This is a significant moment for Taylor! In his inaugural year at the helm, the coach is steering Oklahoma State toward remarkable achievements, and the outcomes are decidedly favorable.
Nonetheless, the coach’s path continues to be fraught with obstacles. Indeed, in the 133 lbs category, his wrestler Reece Witcraft has not been performing at his best according to the recent results. Therefore, Taylor must focus his efforts on this division if he aims to achieve true dominance in college wrestling.
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