For over a decade, Jordan Burroughs has been the heart and soul of American wrestling. A warrior on the mat with gold medals and world titles to his name. But now, something has shifted. The fire still burns, but the battlefield may soon look different. Watching David Taylor step into the head coach role at Oklahoma State has done more than raise eyebrows. It’s stirred something in Burroughs. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist isn’t just reflecting on his legacy. He’s actively wondering: Could I do that too?

Burroughs, still living out east and leading his All I See Is Gold academy, has been keeping busy coaching youth and working out with senior-level athletes. But he’s candid about where his mind has been lately. “I’ve had some interest from some collegiate programs,” he shared during a recent appearance on FloWrestling Radio Live. “So I’m kind of watching and saying, okay, here’s where I’m at in my career. Here’s what I’m thinking.”

The questions are no longer just theoretical. They’re pressing. And the David Taylor blueprint. Going from superstar to program leader is now very real and very tempting. What Taylor has built is weighing on Burroughs. He admitted, “He’s kind of been our test subject. He’s the guinea pig for all of the guys in my space, right?” Well, it’s an honest admission from a man who’s done it all in competition but is now eyeing a different kind of challenge.

For Burroughs, it’s not just about wins and titles anymore. It’s about what comes next. “Close to retirement, on the fringes of saying, okay, do we sit back and rest or do we jump into this game?” he pondered aloud. The wheels are turning. Still, it’s not all glamor. Coaching at the college level is a lifestyle shift. “The hardest part, right? I’ve got five little ones. There’s very little work-life balance,” he acknowledged.

It’s a trade-off that can’t be ignored, and one that gives him pause. Yet even with the concerns, the pull is strong. “Spending time with David and John has kind of changed my perspective, too,” Burroughs admitted, giving a nod to the legends shaping the coaching scene now. “Those are guys that I admire and respect.” Perhaps the clearest signal that Burroughs is leaning toward the sideline came with his final take.

“If the right offer comes to the table, I would be willing to sit down and talk about it,” Burroughs concluded. Surely, that’s not just musings. That’s the intention. And if college wrestling is paying attention, which it should be, there’s now an opportunity to bring in a generational icon who’s ready to redefine his legacy from a corner seat rather than the center mat. After all, his inspiration, David Taylor, just won the NCAA Division I Coach Of The Year 2025. 

David Taylor crowned NCAA Division I coach of the year after stellar rookie campaign

The wrestling world has witnessed many great coaching rises, but few as electric and immediate as David Taylor’s. In his very first year at the helm of Oklahoma State, Taylor has been named the 2025 NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by The Open Mat, capping a dream debut season that redefined expectations in Stillwater. Taking over a program steeped in history, Taylor wasted no time carving his legacy.

He led the Cowboys to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships, producing six All-Americans and two national champions. Dean Hamiti at 174 pounds and Wyatt Hendrickson at heavyweight. Taylor also captured a Big 12 title, becoming just the second first-year head coach to achieve the feat. Hendrickson’s win over Olympic champion Gable Steveson in the NCAA final was the crowning moment.

For Hendrickson, it meant securing the Dan Hodge trophy. But it also sent some serious shockwaves across the wrestling landscape. Taylor’s impact extended far beyond the mat. Oklahoma State’s average home attendance surged to 7,597, the highest single-season figure in program history and a nearly 30% rise from 2024. The Cowboys went 13-1 in dual meets, with their only loss coming against Iowa in a tight 21-16 battle.

With a top-two recruiting class already locked in and another possibly on the way, Taylor’s trajectory is nothing short of meteoric. As The Open Mat noted, “All he was missing was the coaching credentials, and he got a stellar start in 2024-25.” Now, with the Coach of the Year title in hand, the wrestling world knows. David Taylor has arrived.