Brian Smith, head coach of the University of Missouri wrestling team, announced the hiring of Keegan O’Toole as an assistant coach on May 12. O’Toole recently completed his collegiate wrestling career and will move into his first full-time coaching position.
“Keegan is an exceptional individual with a deep passion for wrestling and coaching,” Smith said. “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 expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “I am so thankful for this opportunity to be able to give back to the program that gave me so much,” he said. “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.”
During his time with Missouri, O’Toole became the program’s first five-time All-American and its third two-time NCAA Champion, winning national titles at 165 pounds in both 2022 and 2023. He also claimed four conference championships—one in the Mid-American Conference and three in the Big 12.
Over five seasons, O’Toole accumulated 108 wins, placing him 19th on Mizzou’s all-time wins list. He achieved at least 20 wins in four of those seasons. His career win percentage of .955 (108-5) ranks second in program history, surpassing Ben Askren. Additionally, his total of 22 technical falls is a program record.
O’Toole’s honors include being named Big 12 Wrestler of the Year in 2022 and receiving the Amateur Wrestling News Hammer Award after his first national title. At the 2024 NCAA Championships, he won the Gorriaran Award by recording three pins in under thirteen minutes. He has earned weekly recognition six times during his career, including USA Wrestling’s Athlete of the Week in March 2022.
Internationally, O’Toole captured two age-level world titles for Team USA: U20 Freestyle (74kg) in Russia (2021) and U23 Freestyle (74kg) in Albania (2023). He plans to continue training with Tiger Style Wrestling Club while competing toward future Senior World Championships and aiming for a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Academically, O’Toole was named an NWCA Scholar All-American five times from 2021 through 2025. He earned Academic All-Big 12 honors three times between 2022 and 2024 and was recognized twice as a College Sports Communicator Academic All-American.
Before joining Missouri, O’Toole attended Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin, where he became only the state’s eighteenth four-time state champion wrestler. His prep record stood at 110-5; he also received both the Junior Dan Hodge Award and Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
O’Toole graduated from Missouri with a degree in personal finance planning in 2024. He married Ellianna O’Toole in November of that year.