A lot is happening at Oklahoma State wrestling right now. Call it something special, like returning to the very place that shaped you, but this time, not as a competitor, but as a mentor indeed. Because in the heart of Cowboy Wrestling, a new chapter is quietly unfolding. And guess what? It’s rooted in legacy, growth, and homecoming! While there’s a powerful energy building in Stillwater with the Cowboy RTC making their mark at the Senior World Team Trials Challenge, competing with heart and hunger for spots at Final X, another meaningful shift happened off the mat. What exactly?

Let’s say it’s a familiar face returning to the fold. Once known for his grit on the mat and discipline in the classroom, a new leader steps back onto the turf he once called home. Now with the stakes high and a mission to guide and lead, who has the magic man picked to shape his young athletes while they wrestle and compete for the big championships?

Well, the OSU Cowboy wrestling officials just revealed the big name by dropping the update on X! “Welcome home, Cowboy!” The post read. But who? To say that it’s more than a decade of building success at Army West Point, Kevin Ward is officially returning home, would be an understatement. Why? The OSU alum and Big 12 champion, who had been a three-time NWCA Scholar All-American, is finally stepping into the role of assistant coach under head coach David Taylor. And the hashtag GoPokes says it all. After all, the ex-Cowboy, or let’s say the new coach, had been a part of four NCAA team titles during his days. Now, this brings some serious firepower and leadership experience with him!

For Taylor, it indeed does. “I’m excited to welcome Kevin Ward back to Oklahoma State Wrestling. Kevin was part of four NCAA team titles as a Cowboy wrestler, helped start a successful program from the ground up at Ouachita Baptist, and has been a consistent force at Army for more than a decade,” the magic man said after the OSU release. “His return to the wrestling room here at OSU is going to help us reach our goals for the highest levels of success on and off the mat.” Taylor further shared his optimistic message. But what does the new coach himself have to share about his return?

A lot. Because Ward’s comeback couldn’t have been better timing, especially with OSU’s energy rising on top. Hence, it became hard to put into words what his appreciation for the new opportunity felt like. However, he began, “It’s where my college wrestling and coaching careers started, and it’s a program that has given me so much over the years. The opportunity to give back to the program is something that’s really special for me, and I’m thrilled to join Coach Taylor and his staff.” From a decade of developing NCAA qualifiers and snapping Army’s 17-year drought against Navy to now linking arms with a rejuvenated cowboy squad, Kevin Ward’s return is more than a headline! Isn’t it?

Hence, the question is, how will Kevin Ward try to elevate the programme further?

Kevin Ward aims to make the Cowboys the most driven athletes in the country!

Under Taylor’s early leadership, the Cowboys have excelled fully. They are already showing promising grit on the national stage with their young wrestlers competing at the World Team Trials Challenge in Louisville. While Dean Hamiti Jr., fresh off his NCAA title, fought his way to a runner-up finish at 79kg, there were Dustin Plott and Carter Young who secured the positions at 65kg. But what do these performances indicate? In one word? Hunger. And to be more specific, an upward momentum is brewing inside the Oklahoma State room.

Now that the magic man Taylor has already pushed his wrestlers to higher levels, here’s what Ward has to contribute when he stated, “Coach Taylor has energized and elevated the program, and he has a vision for Oklahoma State Wrestling that is inspiring for everyone involved. I’m looking forward to working alongside all the great coaches, athletes, and supporters of Oklahoma State Wrestling.” Now that’s the spirit that could bring more accolades. Because Ward not only brings in his qualifications and experience but also his entire mindset that looks forward to the goals aligned with the one that the magic man frames! “Our goal is to be the best program in college wrestling and to be a destination for the most driven and motivated wrestlers in the country. I’m excited to get to work,” he further stated.

Yet again, it’s the Cowboys who have gotten a good one to elevate the programme even further. So that their cowboys develop the perfect training intensity by leaning into OSU’s storied legacy as they move ahead to compete with the Nittany Lions and Penn State. After all, it’s one familiar face, up for his mission to guide the next generation of athletes through the same programme that once carved his path. Right?