It is time for homecoming! After 25 years of being the backbone of the Huskers, John Cook announced his retirement a few days ago. And as it turns out, Nebraska didn’t have to look far for the replacement as Dani Busboom Kelly – a Husker through and through – became the perfect choice. And as for DBK, she couldn’t be more excited for her full-circle moment.

“I’ve gotten chills listening to the roars in the Coliseum and now Devaney since I was nine years old. Nebraska is the greatest place in the world to play volleyball and I am honored to be a part of it once again! My family and I can’t wait to get to work and bring more championships home. Go Big Red!” But wait—her return to Nebraska came with a little unexpected twist! Another offer came on the table for Dani Busboom Kelly that made this homecoming even more exciting.

In a YouTube video published by Huskers Online on February 2, Nebraska softball coach Rhonda Revelle let some tea fly, specifically about how she knew Busboom Kelly was destined for greatness even when she was playing softball for Adams Freeman. And with Dani wearing the Husker ‘N’ once again, Revelle couldn’t help but joke about bringing her back into the game.

“Now that she is back in the Husker ’N’, I’m going to ask her if she’s got any eligibility left cause she was quite a pitcher.” Safe to say, Busboom Kelly’s got options—and maybe even a secret softball comeback in her future?

Dani Busboom Kelly was a force to be reckoned with for Louisville volleyball having achieved two NCAA Championship matches, three semi-finals, five regional finals, and four ACC crowns. On the other hand, Rhonda Revelle is already preparing for her 33rd year with the Huskers in 2025, and with 1100 wins, she is a Nebraska legend. Funny how life works, though.

Dani’s story almost took a different turn back in the day when she planned to head out for a softball tourney in Colorado. But then, John Cook stepped in, asking her parents to let her stay and stick around for camp. She ended up getting an award that day, and from that point on, her heart was all in for volleyball. And now, as Dani comes home to Nebraska, let’s just say her welcome was nothing short of magical!

Dani Busboom Kelly was welcomed with open arms

As January wrapped up, the Cornhuskers basketball game turned into a total showstopper, when two legendary figures stepped onto the court. John Cook, at 68, walked to center court to a deafening roar, greeted by Athletic Director Troy Dannen. But the crowd was not yet finished–Dani Busboom Kelly entered the floor, and the crowd erupted again as Nebraska welcomed her back in her new position.

“John Cook was honored for his retirement and Dani Busboom Kelly was welcomed back to Lincoln at tonight’s basketball game. What a moment,” Hail Varsity wrote on the social media sites to express the enchantment. They even released snippets of the emotional scene, such as the last scene where Dani joins Cook at the middle of the basketball court for an embrace, a symbolic transfer of power. “Both received a standing ovation,” quoted Lincoln Arneal.

Now, Dani’s all set to carry John Cook’s legacy forward, but trust—she’s gonna do it in her own legendary way! Cook boasts of an insane list of achievements: four national championships, 12 NCAA Semifinal appearances, nine Big 12 titles, and five Big Ten titles, among others, but Dani Busboom Kelly? She is standing right there raring to go. And who knows? The Huskers might just have another historic era on the cards.