The Nebraska head coach is ready to walk on the path of legacy back at the place that planted the seeds of her success. Dani Busboom Kelly, who is now the head coach of the Huskers, found herself being celebrated by members of the Adams community. A former student of Freeman Public School in Adams, Dani is an inspiration for little kids back in her hometown. Her entire journey from being a small-town athlete to a star player of the sport and then to a head coach is a story told and retold.

Returning back had been a journey filled with joy and pride. The scene that surrounded the event’s glory was just like a movie! Sammie Garton, the kindergarten teacher at the school, called it a scene from the movie Hoosiers, as “Husker buses, Freeman buses, the basketball boys on the vans, and then a bunch of parents in cars following behind,” pulled up at the Devaney Sports Center! Dani Busboom Kelly walked into the storied arena with almost 700 people from the Adams community. 

Dani had been a multi-sport star in the early 2000s. She played volleyball for the University of Nebraska from the year 2003 to 2006 where she created an extravaganza of volleyball! Playing for the Cornhuskers, both as a setter and a libero, she has her name marked on the Big 12 conference and got the team its 2006 NCAA Championship. The principal Cody Wallinger recalled her journey as she marked her arrival. 

“She’s pretty prominent in the halls,” said Wallinger, reflecting on the legacy she created. Wallinger revealed the impact of Dani’s hiring for Nebraska on the school, saying that she is highly recognized among the students as well as the other members and that students now see those titles and glories attached to the walls as a source of motivation to believe in their potential. There are trophies and other laurels brought by Dani that reside inside the school’s trophy case. “At least two basketball, a few volleyball” recalled principal Wallinger. There are pictures from back in the early 2000s of her holding various trophies. 

And, what was perhaps the most adorable thing of her entire homecoming event, was the t-shirt that every Freeman Falcon wore! The school designed special shirts for every student to wear to the homecoming event. This marked a sense of uniformity among all the kids. The shirt had a DBK logo in the middle of an outline of Nebraska and a Falcon logo with Dani’s jersey No. 18 on the left shoulder. “The whole school was wearing these today,” Wallinger said. She further added, “Or red. I mean, it was crazy. ‘DBK’ chants in the hall. Pretty neat.” Interestingly, 

Truly a surreal moment as everyone stood with pride to support and cheer for the school’s new role model! Meanwhile, DBK was pinching herself.

Dani Busboom Kelly was finally emotional

“Today would be a good day to rob a bank,” joked Troy Dannen, Nebraska University Athletic Director. Going by the numbers that were in attendance at the Devaney Sports Center, Adams which has a population of about 650 should have been empty. 

“It blew me away,” responded Dani, surprised that NU sent buses to her school. Acknowledging how “Nebraska continues to elevate women’s sports” and volleyball in the country, DBK expressed her gratitude for having the opportunity to be a part of it all.

Given how fast things had been moving in the last two weeks, Dani never had the time to be emotional. But as she walked up the stage in the arena where it all began, and memories of her freshman year came back, she couldn’t help but get choked up. Before she made her debut for the Huskers, she was found hanging out at the NU Coliseum by an assistant coach. When she was asked what she was doing, Dani replied with tears in her eyes, “I can’t believe I’m here today.”

Years down the line, she is here again and “incredibly honored and humbled to be living yet another dream.”

As Dani steps on this new journey with immense love and support from everyone in and out of the court, it would be interesting to see how she relives her dream. What do you think about Dani getting onto a new lead now? Let us know!