CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State Athletics has announced the hiring of former CSC assistant Taygen Smith as the school's new head men's wrestling coach.
Smith has been with the Chadron State wrestling program for the past four seasons, as a coaching assistant starting with the 2022-23 season and as the program's assistant coach beginning in 2025.
"I am excited to introduce Taygen Smith as the new head coach of our men's wrestling program," Associate Athletic Director Ted Tewahade said. "I believe Taygen provides us with a good combination of continuity and a fresh direction for CSC wrestling."
Smith worked under and will now replace Brett Hunter, who recently departed Chadron State wrestling after 14 seasons as head coach to become Chadron State's new Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development.
"It is an immense honor to be named the head coach at Chadron State," Smith said. "Having spent the last four years here, I've seen firsthand the heart and dedication of this program. I am deeply grateful to Coach Brett Hunter for his guidance, as well as our administration and athletic department for believing in my vision."
Smith has been a part of the coaching staff for several defining moments in Chadron State men's wrestling history. In Smith's four years at Chadron State, the program has had 12 national qualifiers and five All-Americans, including national runners-up Quen Campbell and Keegan Gehlhausen.
The Eagles also set a program record last season with 10 NWCA Academic All-Americans and have recorded 31 during Smith's four-year assistant coach tenure.
"Taygen understands the expectations of Chadron State College and has the potential to build a strong program both competitively and academically," Tewahade said. "Most importantly, I believe he is someone who will represent Chadron State well and provide our student-athletes with the leadership and support they need to be successful."
As an assistant coach at CSC, Smith designed individualized training plans, facilitated practice sessions and conducted film analysis with student-athletes. He also has conducted technique clinics with the Wyoming Coaches Association, co-managed Chadron State's wrestling camps and has helped organize program fundraising events.
"My mission is to build a disciplined, competitive program that makes our campus, alumni, and community proud," Smith said. "I'm eager to get to work with our student-athletes and keep building on the foundation laid before me."
Smith competed as a student-athlete with Hastings College in Nebraska (NAIA), where he was a three-time national qualifier in 2020, 2021 and 2022, earning NAIA All-American honors with a seventh-place national finish in 2021. He was also an Academic All-American that season.
Smith graduated from Hastings in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in recreation and sports management, with a minor in coaching. Smith also obtained a master's degree in organizational management from Chadron State College in 2024.
