Penn State Wrestling: Pat Kraft Talks Possible Contract Extension for Cael Sanderson

Penn State legend David Taylor taking the Oklahoma State head coaching job has been the biggest college wrestling story of the offseason.

A smaller story— but still one that generated interest— broke last week, when Taylor’s contract details were revealed.

“The Magic Man” will be making $1 million in his first season. He’ll make slightly more than that for the next five.

This news got people wondering about Penn State giving Cael Sanderson a raise.

As accomplished as Taylor is in the wrestling world— an Olympic Gold Medal amongst his list of accolades— the 33-year-old has yet to coach his first college dual meet.

Sanderson, on the other hand, is the best coach in the country and maybe the best of all time, with 11 national championships in his 14 seasons in Happy Valley.

Penn State doesn’t generally make its coaching contracts public, so it’s not widely known what Sanderson makes.

So people are wondering about Sanderson’s current salary and if Taylor’s contract details would inspire AD Pat Kraft and company to give Sanderson an extension, which he most recently received in the summer of 2022.

Kraft told reporters ahead of Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis Tuesday evening that although a contract extension hasn’t been discussed with Sanderson, discussions would begin if the legendary coach brought it up.

“If he wanted to talk about a contract extension today, we would talk about a contract extension,” Kraft said. “He isn’t wired that way, which is such an amazing trait that he has. He is solely focused.”

Kraft say he hasn’t talked with Sanderson since Taylor’s contract details were released.

“I chuckled when I saw that,” he said. “To be honest, (Sanderson and staff) are locked and loaded for Paris (where the summer Olympics are). We talk all the time. He is so focused on what is important right now. We’ll continue talking. Everyone knows how I feel about Cael.”

Kraft then noted than although he and Penn State are happy for Taylor, PSU still has the “best wrestling program in the world.

“They (Oklahoma State) can have whoever they want,” he said. “Good luck, David. Second place is cool. But, Penn State wrestling (is No. 1).”