One Year of David Taylor at Oklahoma State

On May 7th, it marked the first anniversary of one of the most surprising and potentially transformative moves in recent college wrestling history. Of course, that was the day that Oklahoma State named David Taylor as their new head wrestling coach. As of only a few weeks prior, Taylor was competing for a spot on the Olympic Team and had no head coaching experience; however, he was one of the most popular and recognizable names in the sport. 

As you might have guessed, the first year under Taylor was very notable. On the mat, on the recruiting trail, in the freestyle world, and much more. We’ve documented some of the key moments of year one under Taylor in one article. 

May 7th, 2024: David Taylor Named Oklahoma State head coach

After about a week of “he is or isn’t he” Taylor made it official in a late-night release that sent shockwaves through the wrestling community. 

May 9th, 2024: Taylor adds Jimmy Kennedy and Thomas Gilman to staff

The addition of Taylor’s brother-in-law, Jimmy Kennedy, was an expected move; however, bringing in Thomas Gilman from the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club was a bit unexpected. 

May 10th, 2024: David Taylor’s introductory news conference

We got to see Taylor in the orange and black for the first time and heard from him along with legendary Oklahoma State head coach John Smith and athletic director Chad Weiberg. 

May 17th, 2024: Taylor brings in Pearsall as Recruiting Coordinator

Ex-Penn State teammate and longtime friend Bryan Pearsall was added after serving on the University of Pennsylvania’s staff from 2017 - first as an assistant coach and then as the Associate Head Coach. 

May 20th, 2024: Caldwell is retained as an assistant coach

Keeping some continuity on staff, David Taylor keeps former rival Tyler Caldwell aboard. Caldwell was a four-time AA, twice for the Cowboys, and battled Taylor in the 2014 NCAA finals. 

May 28/29th, 2024: Transfer portal additions official

Though they were announced before these dates, Dean Hamiti and Caleb Fish put pen to paper and made their transfers to Oklahoma State official. Both would go on to make the NCAA podium in 2025. 

June 6th, 2024: Routledge flips from Nebraska

In a sign of things to come, Kody Routledge, a top prospect in the Class of 2025 re-opened his recruiting and gave a verbal to Taylor’s Cowboys. They would later flip three more high-level prospects from the Class of 2025 with Austin Johnson, Landon Robideau, and Sergio Vega. 

July 9th, 2024: Three-Time AA Cam Amine transfers in

In a bit of a surprising move, Cam Amine leaves a Michigan program that was synonymous with his family to finish his career at OSU. 

August 8th, 2024: Air Force All-American Wyatt Hendrickson comes aboard

We weren’t sure whether this would be allowed or not; however, Wyatt Hendrickson got a special waiver that allowed him to leave the Air Force Academy as a graduate transfer and use his final year of eligibility at Oklahoma State before starting his military service. Hendrickson ended up pulling one of the biggest NCAA shockers in recent memory (or ever) with his upset of two-time Hodge winner and Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. 

September 12th, 2024: Taylor to compete at World Team Trials

This whole scenario that ended with Taylor as the Cowboys head coach started because he fell in the Olympic Trials finals. Taylor seemed to say he was done competing but didn’t fully close the door at his early press conferences. In the weeks leading up to the non-Olympic World Team Trials, whispers from the OSU room were that Taylor was training as if he’d compete at the Trials. This was confirmed on September 12th. 

September 15th, 2024: Taylor wins 92kg spot on the World Team

Taylor cruised through the challenge tournament before sweeping Zahid Valencia in two straight bouts in the World Team Trials finals. 

October 31st, 2024: Taylor takes bronze at World Championships

After a loss to the legendary Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Taylor won a pair of repechage matches to earn a spot in a bronze medal matchup. There he downed two-time world champion Kamran Ghasempour (Iran) to get the bronze. 

November 16th, 2024: Taylor earns first coaching victory

In his dual coaching debut, Oklahoma State posted a 38-6 win over Utah Valley for Taylor to earn his first W. 

December 7th, 2024: Cowboys put on a show in Vegas

In capturing the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational team title, Oklahoma State put all ten wrestlers on the podium, none lower than fifth place. That was good enough for a point total (192 points) that nearly challenged the CKLV tournament record - one established by Oklahoma State nearly 40 years ago. Seniors Dean Hamiti and Wyatt Hendrickson came away with titles. 

December 14th, 2024: Taylor’s Bedlam debut keeps streak intact

With a 35-3 win over in-state rival Oklahoma, the Cowboys extended their winning streak over the Sooners to 20 duals!

February 2nd/6th, 2025: OSU gets commitments from top 2026 recruits

Jax Forrest and Dreshaun Ross - currently ranked #2 and #3 overall in the Class of 2026, both selected Oklahoma State over a bevy of potential suitors. They’ll set the foundation for a second-straight loaded recruiting class for the Cowboys under Taylor. 

February 23rd, 2025: Taylor’s team suffers first loss against Iowa

After getting out to a 13-0 start, Oklahoma State fell 21-16 to rival Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Cowboys won two of the first three matches, but only two after that. 

March 9th, 2025: Cowboys win first Big 12 title since 2021

Taylor’s team won a Big 12 crown in his debut season and the 56th in program history. The finals were slightly bittersweet as Oklahoma State went 1-5 with Hendrickson the only champion. 

March 22nd, 2025: Hamiti and Hendrickson crowned NCAA champions as OSU finishes third

Both Dean Hamiti and Wyatt Hendrickson upset two-time national champions to go out on top as champs in their final opportunity. The Cowboys put six on the podium, three in the finals, and tallied 102.5 points overall. Hendrickson’s win will become one of the indelible moments from the NCAA Championships going forward. 

March 31st, 2025: Hendrickson wins the Hodge Trophy

In one of the tightest Hodge Trophy races ever, Hendrickson edged five-time NCAA champion Carter Starocci for the award. 22 bonus point wins in 27 matches helped propel Hendrickson to the Hodge. He became the third Oklahoma State wrestler to win the award and the first since Alex Dieringer in 2016. 

April 26th, 2025: Three Cowboy RTC athletes win Senior US Open titles

A revitalized Cowboy RTC saw Hendrickson, along with new additions Joey McKenna and Zahid Valencia, capture US Open titles in freestyle.  Hamiti also made the finals. Incoming freshman, Ladarion Lockett, won the U20 freestyle tournament a day later.