New coach Taylor will ‘bring a little magic’ to OSU wrestling ‘Magic Man’ comes to OSU
STILLWATER — An overflow crowd crammed in along the walls of the theater room inside Boone Pickens Stadium as Oklahoma State formally introduced its new wrestling coach.
Fans, media and several members of the wrestling team packed in for David Taylor’s first words as the leader of one of college wrestling’s most prestigious programs.
It was a move that shook the wrestling landscape across the country as the Cowboys replaced the legendary John Smith.
Taylor, an Olympic gold medalist and NCAA champion at Penn State, carries a type of weight in the sport that is difficult to generate.
“David Taylor is your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler,” OSU’s Larry Reece said before introducing Taylor on Friday morning. “If John Smith is the face of American wrestling, David Taylor is the current torch-bearer.”
Taylor’s initial introduction as coach came on social media late Monday night, and the program has since announced the addition of Jimmy Kennedy and Thomas Gilman as his first two assistants on the staff.
Kennedy is Taylor’s brother-in-law, and has been on the staff at Penn State during its recent dynasty dominating college wrestling. Gilman, like Taylor, recently ended his competitive career.
Now, Taylor goes to work structuring the foundation of his program, from the remainder of his coaching staff to filling out any roster vacancies.
Taylor’s nickname is Magic Man, but as Reece properly pointed out Friday, OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg was the one who worked the magic in this hire.
While the outside expectation had been that the keys to the program would simply be handed to Smith’s top assistant, former Cowboy Coleman Scott, Weiberg knew he needed to exhaust all options in filling a job that hadn’t been vacant in 33 years.
“I felt a huge sense of responsibility with this decision,” Weiberg said. “We obviously had a very good option here. I felt good about that. This job has not been open in over three decades and only eight times in its history. So I knew we needed to go through the process about doing the due diligence it deserved.
“We just had to make sure we did everything we could to find the next great leader, so we began the process that led us here.”
In addition to relying on his department staff, Weiberg worked with the talent recruitment firm Bowlsby Sports Advisors and received support from Paycom founder and CEO Chad Richison.
But the ultimate decision fell on Weiberg, who had to be willing to take the chance to hire a wrestler fresh off his competitive retirement and with no formal coaching experience.
But Weiberg saw Taylor’s intelligence and understanding for how a program should operate, along with his willingness to ask questions, and believed he was the man for the job.
Taylor is originally from Wyoming, and has a country-boy background, which has carried over to his family. His daughters have already asked if they can have horses when the family gets its new house in Stillwater.
Taylor was in his Pennsylvania barn, where he has cattle and other livestock, when he saw he had missed a call from Weiberg.
“When Oklahoma State calls, everything goes on pause,” Taylor said.
Once they eventually connected, Weiberg asked Taylor if he’d be interested in the Cowboys’ head coaching job.
“I’m interested in the right situation with the right resources at a place that can win,” Taylor told him.
And over the course of the interview process, Taylor learned just how well OSU fit those requirements.
“This is a tough challenge, and it’s the most uncomfortable decision I’ve ever made,” Taylor said. “But just like training, the best results come from being uncomfortable. I don’t’ want to lose in anything I do, and I’m very excited for what’s ahead.
“We’re gonna create our own little magic down here.”
Following John Smith’s path
From his passion for farm animals to his world-wide success on the mat, Taylor has several similarities to Smith when he took over the Cowboys 33 years ago.
Smith had won six straight world championships with two Olympic golds, but had never been a college coach when he took over the program. Taylor won four straight world titles with one Olympic gold, and likewise, has never been a college coach.
“But also like John, David is a winner,” Weiberg said. “He didn’t just win. He dominated.
“He is a businessman, an entrepreneur, a creative thinker and a problem solver, a hard worker, a relentless competitor and a community builder. He will bring a fresh set of eyes to this historic program, and at the same time, be a fit for the Cowboy family.”
While leaning on those around him with college coaching experience, including Smith and others, Taylor is getting a crash course in his new job.
“There’s a lot of other things that go into coaching, and I’m learning those the last couple days,” Taylor said with a smile. “I am very excited for what’s ahead, and I want to surround myself with people who believe in what we’re trying to do.”
“Oklahoma State, it is the place to wrestle and I’m excited to be a part of that.”