It’s a new dawn for the Nebraska Huskers. After more than two decades at the helm of the Huskers’ volleyball program, coach John Cook announced his decision to step down from his post. While for Coach Cook, it was an emotional rollercoaster to take the decision, a quivering thought also unnerved him just moments after going public with his thoughts about handing over the baton to someone else.

From the iconic Sarah Pavan and Olympic medalists Justine Wong-Ornates and Jordan Larson to fresh alum Lexi Rodriguez, generations of incredible athletes have passed through the Lincoln campus under Cook’s watchful eyes. Over the years, John had become almost synonymous with the Huskers’ volleyball program, which he took to unforeseen heights during his tenure. And yet, even he feared, at least once, that his departure might irreversibly damage Nebraska’s dominance in the collegiate scene.

On January 30, the official Big Ten Volleyball Instagram account shared snippets from the former Nebraska coach’s recent press meet where Cook dropped the bomb about his retirement. In the clip, the veteran coach could be heard talking about how he first broke the news to outside hitter Harper Murray. He admitted it was an emotional moment for her, which also made his conversations with the other athletes much easier. But one specific thing made his eyebrows clench with anxiety.

“Their first reaction was, ‘We’re going to meet’. I didn’t know what they were meeting about. I was like, ‘Are they gonna start talking about going to the portal, or what?’,” John Cook said with a sheepish smile, only to be glad to know that the athletes had decided to do quite the opposite. “But they made a commitment to help Dani. Can’t ask for any more than that,” an emotional Cook added. Cook’s happiness at his former students pledging their loyalty to the news shows that his love for Nebraska volleyball extends beyond the realm of the professional.

It was under John’s tutelage that Nebraska won four NCAA titles. Naturally, the success of the college made it one of the most sought-after programs in the country. But with his exit, Cook was almost afraid that the current batch of athletes would want to explore newer pastures. However, things aren’t as bad as they seem, as Cook will go out knowing things are left in good hands.

John Cook leaves behind his legacy in the right hands

The Huskers have roped in Louisville head coach Dani Busboom Kelly to take over the responsibilities of her iconic predecessor. Cook’s retirement announcement and the revealing of the new head coach happened almost simultaneously, and therefore, made it difficult for the fans to brood over John’s departure for too long. Kelly led the Cardinals to the finals of the 2024 NCAA D1 Volleyball Championship, where they lost to Penn State. Without a doubt, the new coach is every bit capable of leading the momentum that Nebraska has gathered under Cook’s guidance, and her jaw-dropping salary information also reaffirmed the confidence the folks over at Lincoln have in Kelly.

While it’s hearty to know that a Nebraska alum will take charge of the program, seeing the Huskers in action without Coach Cook looking over them will be a difficult thing to process nonetheless. “John Cook is the greatest coach in collegiate volleyball history. You hate the thought that he’s not going to be in your locker room,” Athletic Director Troy Dannen said on Sports Nightly.

But John has high hopes about Kelly’s tactics and has pledged to extend all kinds of support. “Dani’s the right person, so I feel really good about handing this over, and it just feels like it’s the right time,” Cook said during the recent presser, fondly remembering how it was for him to take over from Terry Pettit. With fresh blood on the steering wheel, do you think the Huskers can finally lift the national trophy for the first time since 2017? What are your predictions for Kelly’s first season at the head coach of the storied volleyball program? Share your thoughts with us in a comment!