It was bound to happen sometime. Working the same job for over two-and-a-half decades can take its toll on you, however much you might love it. For John Cook, it wasn’t any different. Taking a cue from Neil Young’s song, the iconic volleyball coach mustered the courage to convince himself that, “It’s better to burn out than fade away.” But his retirement is making the Huskers athletes justifiably feel the blues, and Harper Murray is still finding it difficult to swallow the hard pill.

Just days ago, Olympic gold medalist Jordan Larson announced her decision to leave the Lincoln campus behind. The outside hitter was one of Coach Cook’s earlier students and was the assistant coach for Nebraska since June 2023. Her absence would be sorely felt, even John admitted. But for Harper Murray, watching her “father figure” leave would undoubtedly be the hardest blow to her guts to cope with.

In her post on Instagram from January 31, the Huskers star wrote an emotional message for the exiting coach. “I have the utmost love and respect for this man, and it’s truly almost impossible to put into words how much he means to me,” Harper wrote straight off the bat, underscoring that it’s one goodbye that’s not easy to say.

But for Murray, John Cook was much more than just her coach. Instead, he helped her navigate through troubled times, even when she herself couldn’t see the path. “Never in a million years would I have thought that our relationship would have such a big impact on my life. He stuck by my side and was there for me when I felt like no one else was, and he refused to give up on me even when I made it nearly impossible not to,” she hailed the veteran coach for all his contributions to make her a better human being.

She went on to write, “When you play for a coach like John, you come to realize that you are playing and working for something way bigger than yourself,” highlighting how the coach was always working toward something that transcended individuals. “John would run through a wall for me, and I would do the same for him. I will never be able to put into words how appreciative I am of him,” Harper couldn’t stop lauding John for all he has done for her and the Huskers’ volleyball program. Thankfully, Murray can rest assured that Coach Cook’s grand scheme will not be halted without him at the helm. Instead, the momentum is likely to snowball!

A new dawn for Harper Murray & Co.

John Cook will be succeeded by Dani Busboom Kelly, a Nebraska alum who coached Louisville to the 2024 NCAA Championships finals. And guess what? DBK already has the approval of her predecessor who was quick to call her the “right person” for the job in his retirement presser yesterday. Meanwhile, coach Busboom Kelly couldn’t be more excited to join Nebraska! Why? Because, as per Lincoln Journal Star columnist Amie Just, she practically had in her contract with Louisville that she would be “in line — without penalty! — to leave for her ‘undergraduate alma mater.” And thanks to Coach Cook, her transition is set to be quite smooth.

Cook has already signed five incredible athletes for the 2025 season, who are likely to continue Nebrsaka’s dominance in collegiate volleyball. Among the new signees, Campbell Flynn and Gatorade Arizona Player of The Year Teraya Sigler have already created incredible excitement among the fans, especially considering how playing for the Huskers has been a lifelong dream for some of the new joiners.

And yet, not having Cook in the locker room would be a difficult thing for stars like Harper Murray who have blossomed into more than just student-athletes under his tutelage. Murray’s life has had its fair share of ups and downs, but John never left her hand even when things got difficult. “I wouldn’t be the person or the player I am without him. And I know that I owe a lot to him,” she said about John’s impact on her life, and how things would have been very different without him guiding the way.

But the show must go on! With a new tactical head at the steering, how do you think Murray and the Huskers’ 2025 season will unfold? Do you think the squad can pay its tributes to the legendary coach by winning the national trophy this time? Tell us in a comment!