BREAKING: Penn State wrestling assistant coach leaves to join David Taylor at Oklahoma State

New Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor has plucked his first member of the Penn State wrestling staff to join him in Stillwater. On Thursday, it was announced that Nittany Lions assistant Jimmy Kennedy will follow Taylor to Oklahoma State. Kennedy also joins NLWC star Thomas Gilman as another member from the Cael Sanderson orbit that will be following the Olympic Gold Medalist out West.

Jimmy Kennedy joins David Taylor at Oklahoma State

Penn State wrestling assistant coach Jimmy Kennedy is set to join the staff of new head coach David Taylor at Oklahoma State for the 2024-25 season. Kennedy is the brother-in-law to Taylor, so the move was expected by many. Taylor was officially announced as the Cowboys’ next head coach Monday.

DT got his guy.

Welcome to Stillwater, Jimmy Kennedy!

📰: https://t.co/q0C9gKQ5re#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/CBtmNolSJg

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) May 9, 2024

Kennedy had joined the Nittany Lions prior to the start of the 2022-23 seasons after Jake Varner moved to focus on the NLWC. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Northwestern Wildcats from 2018 to 2021.

Before coaching, Kennedy was a three-time All-American for the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2008, 2009, and 2011. He finished his collegiate career with a 119-24 record. He was a member of the U.S. World Team in 2014 and finished second in the U.S. World Team Trials in 2013 and 2017.

Impact on Penn State wrestling

Anytime a prominent assistant coach goes elsewhere, it comes as a loss to the program. But in this case, the loss won’t hurt Penn State wrestling too much because it still has the big three in Cael Sanderson, Casey Cunningham, and Cody Sanderson.

While Jimmy Kennedy has proven to be a great coaching addition, specifically in the lighter-weight classes, he has only been with the Nittany Lions for two seasons. What will be interesting to watch is how much of the Penn State wrestling and NLWC coaching style and culture, David Taylor, Jimmy Kennedy, and Thomas Gilman can bring to Oklahoma State.

If Taylor is able to replicate something even remotely similar to what Cael Sanderson has built, that will surely shake up the hierarchy within the sport.

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