This Nebraska legend didn’t just shape volleyball—he revolutionized it. No one has influenced the sport more. Over 25 years at NU, his impact was undeniable. He took Nebraska volleyball from packed gyms to sold-out stadiums. Even Memorial Stadium couldn’t hold the demand. Four national titles? Impressive. But his true legacy? A global record when he stepped away. Now, as he retires, Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola sums it up in two simple words. Pure gratitude.

Dylan Raiola recently wrote, “LEGEND!!!”, “G.O. A. T” on an Instagram story. The message is for John Cook, the legend of Nebraska volleyball coach, who is retiring after 25 years of service to the Nebraska team. But prior to his time at Nebraska, Cook spent seven of his thirty-two seasons as a coach at Wisconsin. Thus, 32 years of experience overall! What a journey it has been.

Cook led the Huskers to five Big 10 titles, nine Big 12 titles. However, this is only the beginning. He led Huskers to twelve NCAA Semifinal appearances and four national titles. Thanks to coach John. With a career record of 883-176, Cook has the fifth-best winning percentage of any Division I volleyball coach in history. And over the past 25 years, no DI program has had a better winning% than Cook’s 722-103 record in Nebraska. But this isn’t the end. Legends don’t fade—they inspire. His legacy lives on in every spike, every set, every roaring crowd.

In 2023, Memorial Stadium was packed with 92,003 spectators to witness his team play. In addition, he produced the biggest television ratings in the history of the sport, setting attendance records of almost every road location his team played in this season. And now, on his retirement, Cook said, “I want to thank my family for their support, and I want to thank Bill Byrne and Terry Pettit for giving me the opportunity to be the Nebraska volleyball coach. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great coaches and staff over the years, and I’m forever grateful for how hard they worked and for how much they gave to Nebraska volleyball.”

As of now, the Huskers are using one of their own to replace Cook. Yes, the volleyball team’s new head coach is a former Nebraska player. But what’s even more fascinating is that Raiola’s recent IG message creates a path to know about that great Husker.

Dylan Raiola’s clue about Cook’s successor

“Welcome Coach DBK!” Raiola posted in a recent Instagram story. This is a message to former Nebraska player, Dani Busboom Kelly. It only announces the arrival of Dani Busboom Kelly as Nebraska volleyball’s fourth head coach. This one was nearly too obvious. A real Nebraskan and the epitome of a Husker volleyball player is she.

She helped guide the Huskers to a national title while growing up in Cortland. As a player (2006) and an assistant (2015) at Nebraska, Kelly won national championships. Before taking over as Louisville’s head coach, she gained experience as an assistant at Tennessee and NU. In late 2016, she was appointed head coach of Louisville. During her eight seasons at Louisville, she recorded a 203-44 record, with the final four years seeing a 120-15 record.

Let’s to be real, she helped Louisville become a national power by using the Nebraska volleyball playbook. And she is currently back with her former team.

After getting the opportunity from Nebraska Busboom Kelly wrote, “The opportunity to come home to Nebraska is more than a dream come true. I want to thank Troy Dannen, Dr. Jeffrey Gold, and Kristen Brown for their trust in me to continue the legacy of Nebraska volleyball. A huge thank you to John Cook. I would not be here without his mentorship and support.”

Thus, the Dani era has begun after the Cook era ended. This season, we’ll see how the former Nebraskan leads her group.