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

Cael Sanderson and Penn State wrestling have lost its first assistant to David Taylor and the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Published

9 months ago

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Penn State wrestling, Cael Sanderson, Jimmy Kennedy, David Taylor, Oklahoma State
(From left) Penn State wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson, associate head coach Cody Sanderson and assistant coach Jimmy Kennedy react during a dual meet against Ohio State on Feb. 2, 2024, in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions won, 28-9.

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.

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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Former contributor at Nittany Central, Patrick joined Basic Blues Nation in 2023 as the Social Media Director, Penn State Wrestling beat writer, and producer of the Penn State Roar Room spaces. Patrick is also a contributor of Penn State football, basketball, and ice hockey news for the site.

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