RealTalkAJ

I’ll be sharing my view on how the coaching staff at Oklahoma State can keep their wrestlers developing together without losing talent to transfers or lineup bottlenecks.

How can the coaching staff keep all these wrestlers developing together without losing talent to transfers or lineup bottlenecks?

I would go with helping paint the picture on how the team being built has a history of excellence and that we’re ‘on paper’ the closest to having a staff that’s active in the field. Assure everybody that their goals will be met by staying with the program.

Help paint the picture

For wrestlers deciding whether to stick around in a crowded lineup, the most important factor is the program’s culture.

Coaches need to actively paint the picture of what Oklahoma State wrestling represents today — not just in terms of accolades, but in daily habits, training standards, and expectations of excellence.

Athletes should feel that even if they’re not the starter in year one, they are still part of a system designed to sharpen their skills and prepare them for the highest levels of competition.

This picture can be spruced up by highlighting training partners, facilities, and the long-term plan for how each athlete fits into the roster.

No fabrication is necessary — simply emphasize the reality that OSU is building one of the deepest and most competitive rooms in the country.

If wrestlers understand that every practice and every workout pushes them closer to national and international success, they’ll view staying in Stillwater as more valuable than transferring for immediate mat time.

Your team has a history of excellence

Oklahoma State’s biggest advantage is its reputation.

This is a program that consistently produces All-Americans, and not just one-off performers — many become multi-time All-Americans and national champions.

The coaching staff should remind current athletes that they’re part of a lineage that few programs in the country can match.

That kind of history isn’t just a statistic, it’s a selling point that reassures wrestlers their development is being guided by proven systems.

Wrestlers want to know that if they commit to a program, they’re maximizing their odds of success at the highest levels.

By leaning into OSU’s identity as a powerhouse that has churned out greatness for generations, the staff can make it clear: there’s no better place to refine your skills and reach your goals.

Transfers may promise quick opportunities, but no other program offers the same guarantee of training alongside champions year after year.

‘On paper’ we’re the youngest team

Another unique card OSU can play is its youthful leadership.

The head coach and much of the staff aren’t just experienced — they’re still active or fresh off competing at the world’s highest levels.

The head coach himself is only in his second year removed from becoming an Olympic Gold medalist, following in the footsteps of another gold medalist in John Smith.

This makes Oklahoma State one of the youngest, most relevant coaching staffs in the NCAA.

That youth translates into hands-on training, energy in the room, and direct experience with the modern international style of wrestling.

The staff can leverage this fact to keep athletes bought in: not only are they guided by champions, but they’re training with coaches who still embody the lifestyle of world-class wrestlers.

On paper, that makes OSU a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

If athletes realize they’re part of this rare overlap, they’ll be less tempted to leave for other programs that can’t offer the same immediacy of mentorship.

Your goals will be met by staying with the program

The ultimate way to keep wrestlers from leaving is to assure them that their long-term goals will be achieved at Oklahoma State.

Whether those goals are NCAA titles, international medals, or Olympic dreams, the staff must prove that OSU is the right place to make them happen.

Highlighting current wrestlers like Jax, Zahid, Wyatt, and Rin competing at the 2025 World Championships is a perfect way to back this up.

The message is simple: “If you stay in this room, your career will advance beyond college wrestling into the global stage.”

By connecting the dots between everyday training in Stillwater and international representation, athletes can visualize a future that extends far beyond temporary lineup bottlenecks.

When wrestlers see their goals reflected in those already achieving them, they’ll recognize that transferring risks interrupting their trajectory.

Staying the course at OSU becomes the clear choice.