Nebraska Volleyball and Dani Busboom Kelly. Oh, wait, it’s John Cook, right? Well, not anymore! After 25 seasons of leading Nebraska volleyball with four NCAA titles, the legendary John Cook announced his retirement on Wednesday. In his statement, Cook, 68, shared, “It’s been a great run. I want to thank my family for their support … 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.”

His legacy is one for the books, leaving behind a program that’ll always remember him. Now, the baton is passed and the former Nebraska player and assistant Dani Busboom Kelly is ready to take over the program after eight years of excellence leading Louisville. Surprisingly, the initial terms of her contract facilitated an easy move to Nebraska. A new chapter begins, but the foundation of success remains intact!

Dani Busboom Kelly returns home!

Amie Just, a former athlete turned sports columnist for the Lincoln Journal Star, hopped onto X on January 29, right after the news dropped about Dani Busboom Kelly taking the reins at Nebraska Huskers. She spilled the tea, saying, “Dani Busboom Kelly was always the choice for Nebraska volleyball. It was written into her Louisville contract, basically, that she’d be in line — without penalty! — to leave for her “undergraduate alma mater.” Guess it was all part of the plan, huh?

Even Creighton volleyball’s head coach, Kirsten Bernthal Booth, had to jump in and share her two cents. She said, “Super impressed with how both Nebraska and Louisville volleyball have handled this seismic change in each program. Coordinated well, which likely means you won’t see many players hit the portal. Great for the programs, and I’d argue even better for the athletes.” It seems like both teams are handling this shake-up like pros!

Dani Busboom Kelly took the reins at Louisville Volleyball in 2017, and man, did she turn that program around! In just eight seasons, she racked up an impressive 203-44 record, with a sizzling 123-21 in ACC play. She didn’t stop there, bringing home ACC titles and taking the Cardinals to the NCAA semifinals.

But now? Someone else is stepping in to keep the momentum rolling!

Louisville Volleyball sees the next coach!

After Dani Busboom Kelly’s incredible run, the University of Louisville Volleyball program is ready for its next chapter. The Cardinals’ Associate Head Coach, Dan Meske, is set to take over as the new head coach after the pending University of Louisville Athletic Association’s (ULAA) approval later this week.

With more than 16 years of experience in collegiate coaching, including playing a huge role in the Cardinals’ meteoric rise alongside Busboom Kelly, Meske’s been a key figure in their success. He’s also served as an assistant at Nebraska and the head coach at Augustana.

Louisville Athletics Director Josh Heird expressed his excitement, saying, “I am thrilled to promote Dan Meske to the role of Head Coach. Throughout his tenure, Dan has had several opportunities to leave UofL for other head coaching roles, but he has stayed committed to making UofL one of the elite programs in the country.”

Heird added, “I am supremely confident in his ability to lead this program into the future in the same manner he has already helped guide us to where we are today during his time as the associate head coach.”

Once formally approved, Meske will become the eighth head coach in Louisville Volleyball history. And Heird is all in on his potential. “Dan is a proven leader, teacher, and program builder that will keep us on a national championship trajectory. If formally approved by ULAA, we look forward to welcoming Dan as our head coach, along with his wife, Laurel and their three sons, Ryne, Maddox and Hendricks.”

Looks like the future is in good hands after Cook’s retirement and Dani coming back home!