In a bit of a bombshell, Oklahoma State is “in contact” with David Taylor, a former Penn State star and Olympic Gold Medalist, about the head coach vacancy.
According to Pat Mineo of The Wrestling Room and Christian Pyles of Flo Wrestling, Taylor was seen as a wishlist candidate. Coleman Scott is currently the interim head coach and was widely expected to be promoted.
But, Taylor was the latest of a few candidates being discussed by Oklahoma State.
“Oklahoma State and David Taylor have been in contact since late last week about the Cowboys head coach position,” Pyles wrote on Twitter. “OSU leadership flew to State College last night and met with David this morning.
“I’m told there is no additional meeting in Stillwater with David planned for this weekend. Four other candidates interviewed prior to Oklahoma State and David connecting. These interviews took place prior to the Olympic Trials.”
John Smith retired after the conclusion of the season, leaving the Cowboys job open.
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.
Getting Taylor to replace him would be an out of the box hire, considering Taylor’s lack of coaching experience. However, having been around Cael Sanderson his whole career, he might have the chops to do the job.
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.
The post Report: Oklahoma State ‘in contact’ with David Taylor about wrestling head coach vacancy appeared first on On3.