While Jordan Larson’s departure as Huskers assistant coach may have rattled fans, it was only the beginning. The last few hours have been an absolute rollercoaster ride for Nebraska Huskers fans with NU announcing the retirement of head coach John Cook. As stunned fans struggled to process what they had just learned, the NU announced former Husker Dani Busboom Kelly would replace Cook.

“A Husker homecoming for DBK.

Introducing the 4th Head Coach of Nebraska Volleyball, Dani Busboom Kelly.” announced the official Huskers social media handle. And while fans struggled to catch their breath amid the surprise announcements, Busboom Kelly made a heartwarming addition with her own surprise. Huskers Illustrated report Lincoln Arneal reported the news on X.

“Dani Busboom Kelly is expecting her second child later this spring,” the podcast host disclosed. While the fans were bombarded with one surprise after another, neither the pregnancy nor coaching Nebraska is new to DBK. The former Louisville head coach became a mother for the first time in April 2022. The volleyball icon and her husband, Lane Kelly, welcomed their son, Gregory “Boone” Kelly.

So the fact her first season as the Nebraska Huskers head coach will coincide with the birth of her second child makes it quite special. Meanwhile, this won’t be DBK’s first stint as a coach at Nebraska, as she was the team assistant coach under John Cook from 2012 to 2016. What’s even more impressive? During her stint, the Huskers won the 2015 NCAA Championship.

This puts Dani Busboom Kelly in an exclusive position as an ex-Husker. DBK ended her final year at Nebraska as a player by winning the national title in 2006 and then returned to win it again as an assistant coach.

So it may be safe to ask: Will Kelly do it again as head coach? While only time will answer that question, some may be concerned with another.

How will Dani Busboom Kelly juggle being a mother and a head coach?

Since Kelly will become a mother for the second time in spring 2025, she’ll have to juggle between taking care of her newborn and being the first-year head coach in Nebraska. However, once again, this isn’t the volleyball star’s coaching while taking care of a newborn while coaching a national championship-caliber team. She already did it with Louisville in 2022.

Dani Busboom Kelly brought baby Boone to the Louisville Cardinals gym for the first time when he was just a few months old. “I brought him to camp this summer and as soon as we walked into the gym, he started smiling,” DBK said as per the Louisville Courier-Journal. What else happened in 2022? DBK took Louisville to their first NCCA Championship finals.

In fact, throughout her time with the Cardinals, Kelly has elevated the program from conference title contenders to National Championship runner-ups. The fact that she is already familiar with John Cook’s training style is another reason the Huskers chose the 2021 AVCA Coach of the Year. Nebraska’s Athletic Director Troy Dannen feels lucky to have the coach on their team.

“Dannen called hiring Busboom Kelly a ‘no-brainer… I was fortunate she did say yes.'” the Athletic Director said, as per Lincoln Arneal. So those worrying about how DKB would handle being a mother and the successor to the legendary John Cook may not have much to worry about.