Oklahoma State wrestling to hire Olympic champion David Taylor to replace coach John Smith

Scott Wright, The Oklahoman

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State’s new wrestling coach is following a path similar to that of the man he replaces.

David Taylor was an NCAA and Olympic champion, just like Cowboy legend John Smith. And the 33-year-old Taylor has not been a college coach, just like Smith when he took over at OSU in 1992.

OSU officially announced the hiring of Taylor on social media late Monday night.

Smith announced his retirement April 11, and it was widely anticipated that associate head coach Coleman Scott would succeed Smith. Scott had left a head coaching job at North Carolina last summer to return to his alma mater as Smith's No. 1 assistant.

But as time moved forward in the aftermath of Smith’s retirement, rumors and reports began to surface of other candidates, including Taylor.

As a four-time finalist and two-time winner at the NCAA Championships during his career at Penn State, Taylor went on to win three gold medals at the World Championships and gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

He concluded his competitive career last month when he did not make the Olympic team at the 2024 US team trials. He was defeated in consecutive matches by Penn State’s Aaron Brooks, who claimed the Olympic team spot.

Aside from a brief message welcoming Taylor to OSU, the university has not commented on his hire.

More: Where wrestling coach John Smith ranks among OU, Oklahoma State coaches in national titles

Who is David Taylor?

  • Born: Dec. 5, 1990

  • Hometown: St. Paris, Ohio

  • College: Penn State

  • NCAA career: Taylor went 70-1 in his career at Penn State from 2009-14 under coach Cael Sanderson, winning two NCAA title, four Big Ten titles and the Dan Hodge Trophy as nation's best college wrestler in 2012 and 2014.

  • Olympic career: Won the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at 86 kilograms at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic).

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State wrestling hires Olympic champion David Taylor as coach

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