Days after Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith announced his retirement after 33 seasons, athletic director Chad Weiberg took a mental break.
A reset from reality. Time to reflect and ponder the new reality of his athletic department: for the first time in more than three decades, OSU wrestling held a head coaching vacancy.
The Cowboys, whose 34 team national championships mark the highest total for any NCAA athletic program, haven’t won a team title since 2006, a conference title or produced an individual champion since 2021. Thus, the vitality of Weiberg’s hire was immense. OSU needed a splash hire.