Keegan O'Toole named new assistant coach for Missouri wrestling

Keegan O’Toole was named an assistant coach for the Missouri Tigers wrestling program Monday. Head coach Brian Smith made it official, adding the two-time NCAA champion to the staff.

O’Toole just wrapped up his final season as a Tiger in 2025, finishing as the NCAA runner-up at 174 pounds. He was a three-time finalist, doing it twice at 165 pounds.

Now, he continues to represent “Tiger Style” for the foreseeable future. For O’Toole, it was a natural transition to coaching.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity to be able to give back to the program that gave me so much,” O’Toole said, per the 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.” 

Smith, who’s 27 years and counting as the head coach of Missouri, was thrilled to keep O’Toole around. It should help development in the room and the recruitment of athletes.

“Keegan is an exceptional individual with a deep passion for wrestling and coaching,” Smith said in a 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.” 

O’Toole had 108 wins in a Missouri singlet, putting him 19th all-time in program history. He finished with a record of 108-5, giving him the second highest winning percentage (95.5%) in program history behind two-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist Ben Askren.

Due to the COVID-19 waiver, O’Toole was granted an extra year of eligibility. During his first year on campus, O’Toole finished third at 165 at the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He would win back to back titles at the weight over the next two years.

In 2024, his final year at 165, O’Toole finished third after falling to Iowa State’s David Carr in the semifinals. Carr, a two-time NCAA champion himself, had a tremendous rivalry with O’Toole on the mat. O’Toole went 2-3 against Carr, losing to him twice in 2023, but beating him in their third bout, which was the NCAA finals.

In 2024, O’Toole beat Carr 8-2 in the Big 12 finals but lost 8-6 in the NCAA semifinals. Moving up a weight in his final season, O’Toole was one of the favorites at 174. However, he fell to Oklahoma State’s Dean Hamiti 4-1 in sudden victory in Philadelphia after beating him 7-4 in SV in the Big 12 finals.

O’Toole has proven to be a threat on the international scene as well, winning two age-level world titles for the USA: 2021 U20 Freestyle (74kg) and in 2023 U23 Freestyle Staying around Mizzo, he intends to continue training out of the Tiger Style Wrestling Club and compete for future Senior World Championships and a run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.