Oklahoma State Coach David Taylor Ends Career with Bronze at World Championships

Oklahoma State’s wrestling coach is a world bronze medalist.

David Taylor on Thursday won a trio of matches to win a bronze medal at the Senior World Championships in Albania. He beat two-time world champion Kamran Ghasempour of Iran 6-2 in the 92-kilogram bronze medal match.

David Taylor brings home the bronze! 🥉

After a disappointing showdown with Sadulaev, he fought all the way to the bronze medal match where he took down Kamran Ghasempour of Iran.

Incredible resilience and heart – we’re so proud of you, DT! pic.twitter.com/CGWvp4pUIp

— SNL Wrestling (@WrestlingSNL) October 31, 2024

Taylor lost his first match of the tournament on Wednesday to seven-time world champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev from Russia, 7-0. Sadulaev made the finals, though, putting Taylor in repechage and keeping his chances alive of getting on the podium. Taylor started his battle back with a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan’s Abubakr Abakarov, who was a World bronze medalist in 2021. He then notched an 11-1 technical fall against Lars Schaefle of Germany to set up the bronze medal matchup.

The bronze medal is Taylor’s fifth World medal. He won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 and is also a three-time Worlds champion.

Taylor, who became OSU’s coach in May, announced beforehand that this would be his final completion so he can focus on coaching full-time as the Cowboys’ season starts Nov. 15 to begin the David Taylor era. Taylor was emotional as he soaked in the moment after his final match.

Good ride, Cowboy 👏#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/r9mDEDhmuB

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) October 31, 2024

Taylor had originally said at his introductory news conference that he was done competing, but after a few months leading the Cowboys, he said his competitive spirit was rekindled, ultimately leading him to enter the United States World Team Trials last month, which he won to earn a spot in the Senior World Championships. Taylor still competing while coaching isn’t unheard of in the wrestling world, especially at OSU. Former OSU coach John Smith, who Taylor replaced after 33 years, won an Olympic gold medal following his first season leading the Cowboys, then retired from competition.