Just a year ago, David Taylor, arguably the world’s greatest pound-for-pound wrestler, stunned the wrestling world by announcing his retirement after falling short at the U.S. Olympic Trials for Paris 2024. Accepting the head coaching role at Oklahoma State University, it seemed his competitive days were behind him. But the fire of Paris reignited his passion. At 33, Taylor laced up his boots again, proving he’s far from done—and the results speak for themselves.

At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April, USA Wrestling dropped the news on their X handle that “2024 USA Wrestling Men’s Freestyle Awards: Spencer Lee & David Taylor (Wrestlers of the Year), Casey Cunningham (Coach of the Year) @pennstateWREST @Hawks_Wrestling @CowboyWrestling @NittanyLionWC @NittanyLionWC @titan_mercury” This is Taylor’s second time claiming this honor, having won it in 2022. His 2024 season was a fitting cap to a jaw-dropping career. Wrestling at 92 kg, Taylor nabbed a bronze at the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania.

After an early loss to two-time Olympic champ Abdulrashid Sadulaev, he battled through repechage, taking down Azerbaijan’s Abubakr Abakarov and Germany’s Lars Schaefle before sealing a 6-2 win over Iran’s Kamran Ghasempour for the bronze. He also punched his ticket to Worlds by dominating the Senior World Team Trials in Omaha, sweeping a best-of-three series against 2023 World bronze medalist Zahid Valencia.

As head coach, Taylor wasted no time making waves. At the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships, his Cowboys finished third with 102.5 points—their best showing since 2021. The real fireworks came from Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr., who claimed individual titles. Hendrickson pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history, toppling Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson for the heavyweight crown. Hamiti followed suit, stunning two-time champ Keegan O’Toole to win at 174 pounds. “Finishing in third place, that’s pretty special because it’s not an individual thing,” coach  said. “It’s everybody. Individually, obviously those guys help you win, but you need everybody.“

Taylor’s resume reads like a wrestling fairy tale. A 2020 Olympic gold at 86 kg, three World golds (2018, 2012, 2023), a 2021 World silver, and that 2024 bronze. He’s a four-time U.S. Open champ, three-time Pan American gold medalist, and was named United World Wrestling’s Freestyle Wrestler of the Year in 2018. But in May, Taylor traded his competitor’s mindset for a coach’s whistle, taking the helm at Oklahoma State after legendary John Smith. From Olympic podiums to coaching NCAA champs, Taylor’s proving that greatness doesn’t retire—it just finds a new way to shine. Now, he’s got an addition in his coaching team as well.

David Taylor sees a bright future for the Cowboys alongside coach Lee Roper

The Cowboy Wrestling program at Oklahoma State is entering an exciting new chapter with the arrival of Lee Roper as the Senior-level RTC coach, joining forces with executive director David Taylor. The sudden departure of former developmental coach Thomas Gilman had sparked concerns about the program’s direction, but Roper’s addition has quickly shifted the narrative, injecting fresh energy and ambition into the team.

Roper, previously a standout coach at the University of Northern Iowa, brings a decade of experience in transforming wrestlers into national contenders. Known for his technical precision and athlete-first mentality, Roper’s track record speaks for itself. At UNI, he was instrumental in elevating the wrestling program’s stature on the national stage. Now, under Taylor’s leadership at Cowboy RTC, Roper is poised to replicate that success. “You come in the room, and man, just looking around and seeing some of the names in here, what an honor to be a part of this,” Roper shared in a video posted by Cowboy RTC on Instagram, expressing his enthusiasm for contributing to the program’s legacy.

David Taylor, the “Magic Man,” has already made a significant impact in his first season as head coach, leading the Cowboys to a 13–1 dual meet record, a Big 12 Championship with 153.5 points, and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Yet, Taylor’s vision extends beyond these achievements. With Roper by his side, the duo aims to push the program to new heights, blending Taylor’s proven leadership with Roper’s coaching expertise.

The partnership between Taylor and Roper signals a bold step forward for Oklahoma State wrestling. Together, they are building a culture of excellence driven by mutual respect and a shared commitment to developing champions. As the Cowboys gear up for the future, the wrestling world is watching, eager to see how this dynamic coaching tandem will shape the program’s next era.