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STILLWATER — David Taylor might be a first-year wrestling coach, but leading the Cowboys comes with a platform, and one of the sport’s biggest names is willing to use it.
On Jan. 14, Taylor posted on X that wrestling should bring back the national duals. Less than a week later, his wish became reality.
May 10, 2024 video courtesy of OSU Athletics. OSU hired Olympic and world champion David Taylor to succeed retiring John Smith.
Paycom agreed to sponsor a national duals invitational at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Nov. 15-16. The BOK Center will also host the Big 12 Wrestling Championship March 8-9.
“Hosting the National Duals Invitational by our fantastic sponsor, Paycom, is a game-changer for DI wrestling,” said Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, in a press release. “Due to the unprecedented challenges in NCAA Division I athletics today, it is more imperative than ever to have more big moments in intercollegiate wrestling so we can substantially grow our fan base and viewership.”
The release states that Oklahoma State will serve as the host school for the event, which will feature 16 of “some of the top NCAA Division I teams” competing for a total purse of $1 million.
The winner will receive $200,000; second and third place will each get $150,000 with fourth walking away with $75,000. The rest of the top eight will get somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000, with every participating team guaranteed at least $20,000.
All 16 teams will be announced on or before July 15.
“I am excited for the sport of wrestling to have a competitive field at the inaugural National Duals Invitational,” Paycom founder and CEO Chad Richison said. “Investing in student athletes and non-income-generating sports is important in today’s ever-evolving collegiate landscape.”
This sort of financial gift to athletics, especially the sport of wrestling, is nothing new for Richison, who played a role in bringing Taylor to Stillwater in the first place.
As of 2021, the CEO’s total gifts to the University of Central Oklahoma, where Richison wrestled, totaled at least $25 million, plus his foundation contributes to high school wrestling, as well.
Following Taylor’s introduction as the OSU coach last spring, Richison elaborated on why he’s willing to so thoroughly support wrestling across the state, including both Stillwater and Norman.
“I think that wrestling changed my life,” Richison said. “It changes your life by your wins and the confidence that you get. It changes your life when you experience the losses or embarrassment. … I think Dan Gable said wrestling teaches you how to get off your back, and life is going to put you there. I kind of lived by that.”
Paycom CEO Chad Richison helped bring David Taylor to Stillwater to replace former Oklahoma State University wrestling coach John Smith.
Courtesy, Bruce Waterfield, OSU Athletics
News of the event comes during a time of uncertainty where college athletics are concerned. Pending radical changes due to ongoing litigation, universities could pay an additional $20 million per year to their athletes, most of which is expected to be funneled into football unless Title IX forces a more equitable split between men’s and women’s sports. Either way, wrestling is unlikely to be a priority at most schools nationwide.
“Bringing a prestigious wrestling tournament of this magnitude to Oklahoma is exciting for the sport, and the winnings will be significant in helping universities build out their programs at an even higher level,” Oklahoma State University Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said. “We continue to be grateful for Mr. Richison and Paycom’s support of wrestling in the state of Oklahoma and nationally.”
Taylor declined to get into the ongoing change happening at the collegiate level when asked about it following Sunday’s win. However, the first-year coach has repeatedly emphasized his team’s need to put out a product that captivates fans and leads to increased support.
Taylor has also said wrestling, as a whole, needs to push for a larger audience.
“We have to figure out ways that we continue to market our teams and our programs and the guys that are on the mat,” Taylor said. “You know, that’s the future. So I think having both sets a good schedule, and I think it’s something kids will want to look forward to — the programs will look forward to.”
National wrestling duals coming to Tulsa with $1 million on the line, thanks to Paycom CEO
- Jan 21, 2025 Updated Jan 22, 2025
Tyler Waldrep
OSU Sports WriterSTILLWATER — David Taylor might be a first-year wrestling coach, but leading the Cowboys comes with a platform, and one of the sport’s biggest names is willing to use it.
On Jan. 14, Taylor posted on X that wrestling should bring back the national duals. Less than a week later, his wish became reality.
May 10, 2024 video courtesy of OSU Athletics. OSU hired Olympic and world champion David Taylor to succeed retiring John Smith.
Paycom agreed to sponsor a national duals invitational at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Nov. 15-16. The BOK Center will also host the Big 12 Wrestling Championship March 8-9.
“Hosting the National Duals Invitational by our fantastic sponsor, Paycom, is a game-changer for DI wrestling,” said Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, in a press release. “Due to the unprecedented challenges in NCAA Division I athletics today, it is more imperative than ever to have more big moments in intercollegiate wrestling so we can substantially grow our fan base and viewership.”
The release states that Oklahoma State will serve as the host school for the event, which will feature 16 of “some of the top NCAA Division I teams” competing for a total purse of $1 million.
The winner will receive $200,000; second and third place will each get $150,000 with fourth walking away with $75,000. The rest of the top eight will get somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000, with every participating team guaranteed at least $20,000.
All 16 teams will be announced on or before July 15.
“I am excited for the sport of wrestling to have a competitive field at the inaugural National Duals Invitational,” Paycom founder and CEO Chad Richison said. “Investing in student athletes and non-income-generating sports is important in today’s ever-evolving collegiate landscape.”
This sort of financial gift to athletics, especially the sport of wrestling, is nothing new for Richison, who played a role in bringing Taylor to Stillwater in the first place.
As of 2021, the CEO’s total gifts to the University of Central Oklahoma, where Richison wrestled, totaled at least $25 million, plus his foundation contributes to high school wrestling, as well.
Following Taylor’s introduction as the OSU coach last spring, Richison elaborated on why he’s willing to so thoroughly support wrestling across the state, including both Stillwater and Norman.
“I think that wrestling changed my life,” Richison said. “It changes your life by your wins and the confidence that you get. It changes your life when you experience the losses or embarrassment. … I think Dan Gable said wrestling teaches you how to get off your back, and life is going to put you there. I kind of lived by that.”
Paycom CEO Chad Richison helped bring David Taylor to Stillwater to replace former Oklahoma State University wrestling coach John Smith.
Courtesy, Bruce Waterfield, OSU Athletics
News of the event comes during a time of uncertainty where college athletics are concerned. Pending radical changes due to ongoing litigation, universities could pay an additional $20 million per year to their athletes, most of which is expected to be funneled into football unless Title IX forces a more equitable split between men’s and women’s sports. Either way, wrestling is unlikely to be a priority at most schools nationwide.
“Bringing a prestigious wrestling tournament of this magnitude to Oklahoma is exciting for the sport, and the winnings will be significant in helping universities build out their programs at an even higher level,” Oklahoma State University Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said. “We continue to be grateful for Mr. Richison and Paycom’s support of wrestling in the state of Oklahoma and nationally.”
Taylor declined to get into the ongoing change happening at the collegiate level when asked about it following Sunday’s win. However, the first-year coach has repeatedly emphasized his team’s need to put out a product that captivates fans and leads to increased support.
Taylor has also said wrestling, as a whole, needs to push for a larger audience.
“We have to figure out ways that we continue to market our teams and our programs and the guys that are on the mat,” Taylor said. “You know, that’s the future. So I think having both sets a good schedule, and I think it’s something kids will want to look forward to — the programs will look forward to.”
