Two-time national champion Keegan O’Toole returns to Tiger Style as a coach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
One of the best wrestlers in Mizzou history is set to return to Tiger Style as an assistant coach.
Just weeks after finishing up his final collegiate season, Mizzou announced that two-time national champion Keegan O'Toole will be sticking around to serve in a full-time coaching role under head coach Brian Smith.
"I am so thankful for this opportunity to be able to give back to the program that gave me so much," O'Toole said in a press release. I can't wait to be in these guys' corners pushing them to be great wrestlers, but even more important, great people. Tiger Style is a lifestyle, and I want to help young men embody that."
O'Toole just wrapped up his legendary Tiger Style career in March, after putting together a run for the record books. He was the program's first five- time All-American and the third two-time NCAA Champion in MU history. In addition to those national title, he also won four conference championships, one in the Mid-American Conference and three in a loaded Big 12 Conference.
Over the course of five years in the black and gold, O'Toole added more than just championships to his trophy case. The Wisconsin-native was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Year in 2022, won the Amateur Wrestling News Hammer Award, claimed the Gorriaran Award at the NCAA Championships for most falls in shortest amount of time with three pins and even earned weekly honors six times, including being named USA Wrestling's Athlete of the Week in 2022.
The Tiger Style great totaled 108 wins in five years, putting him at 19th on the all-time win list for Mizzou. His .955 career winning percentage is second all-time in program history, surpassing his mentor Ben Askren. O'Toole tallied 22 career technical falls which is the best in the program's history.
He's also a threat on the international scene, as he hopes to someday make a run in the Olympic Games. O'Toole has won two age-level world titles for the United States in 2021 and in 2023. As he stays in Columbia as a coach, he will also train and compete in future Senior World Championships and make a run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"Keegan is an exceptional individual with a deep passion for wrestling and coaching," Smith said in a press release. "His dedication to Tiger Style and commitment to training for the Olympics will be incredibly inspiring for the wrestlers around him. Having someone with such a high wrestling IQ and loyalty on our staff will surely be a huge asset."
