The news of John Cook’s retirement shocked the Huskers, and especially Harper Murray, last month. But before the fright could set in, Dani Busboom Kelly stepped up to take the reins, and let’s just say, she’s already making waves. Nebraska volleyball wasted no time in keeping the momentum alive, and proof of that came just days ago when Kenna Cogill, originally committed to Oregon, flipped the script. On February 24, she took to Instagram with a post titled “Change of plans” and announced her verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska. “This has been a dream of mine since I started playing volleyball,” she said, which clearly showed that the tradition of the Huskers was unmissable.

Cogill made sure to give a special shoutout to Coach Dani, Coach Jaylen, and Coach Kelly for welcoming her into the Husker family. And speaking of keeping things steady, longtime coaching staff members Jaylen Reyes and Kelly (Hunter) Natter are sticking around, making sure there are no missing puzzle pieces heading into the new season. And now, Harper Murray is sharing her insight on what Nebraska volleyball has in store for Busboom Kelly—and from the looks of it, the Huskers are not only maintaining the legacy but are ready to level up!

Harper Murray makes a confession

Sitting down with Hurrdat Sports, Harper Murray got real about the Huskers’ identity shift under Dani Busboom Kelly. When asked about the evolving team culture, she reflected on Becca’s past press conference comments about wanting to win a National Championship with Coach Cook. But now, things have changed. “Now we can win one for him, and we don’t have to do it with him as our coach.”

Though it is never easy to change a leader, Harper Murray is not complaining about it. “Danny has different things that Coach might not have, so I think that’s something that we’re still trying to figure out, but it’ll be good for us just to have a new sight on a new coach. Like, we can come into practice with a new mindset and a new outlook on volleyball a little bit.”

The host then asked her a rather intriguing question: whether or not she likes it when she feels uncomfortable. New roles and expectations are always associated with change, after all. Harper Murray’s response was classic: “I don’t know if I don’t like being uncomfortable, I just don’t like when people mess with my schedule.” She laughed, admitting that while she can roll with the punches, she prefers when things stay in order. “So I don’t know, maybe just—I don’t know if that counts, but I don’t mind it.”

Clearly, Dani Busboom Kelly isn’t just entering this new chapter; she is bringing a whole legacy with her. Louisville was not just a mere layover for her; it was her kingdom where she ruled the court. The AVCA National Coach of the Year in 2021? Check. VolleyballMag.com’s Coach of the Year? Yep, that too. And let’s not forget how she accumulated four AVCA East Region Coach of the Year awards as if it was child’s play in 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022. For good measure, she was honored as the ACC Coach of the Year in three consecutive years: 2020, 2021, and 2022. Bottom line? She knows how to construct a superpower. And she indeed received a great welcome!

Huskers welcome their new coach

When Dani Busboom Kelly joined the Husker family, she was not very much aware of what was in store for her. However, in a reel posted on February 5th, she made it quite clear that the team’s support left her speechless. “I thought that was amazing,” she said.

The moment Cook left the team, the Huskers did not waste any time. They turned their attention to what was ahead of them rather than regretting what they had lost. “And for them to lose someone like John and immediately be able to turn their focus into what’s next and what can we do to support Dani, it was huge to hear that.” And just like that, she knew—this was the right move at the right time.

Well, Nebraska fans were not yet recovered from John Cook’s resignation when the Huskers decided to surprise them with Dani Busboom Kelly as the new head coach. The plot twists were not over yet, though. January also saw another mind-blowing event when both Cook and DBK were seen attending a Cornhuskers basketball match. As Cook took center court, the stadium erupted in cheers, a standing ovation washing over the legendary coach. And just when the fans thought that they had seen it all, DBK came onto the court beside him, and that embrace said it all: one chapter is over, and a new one has begun.

Hail Varsity captured the magic, posting, “John Cook was honored for his retirement, and Dani Busboom Kelly was welcomed back to Lincoln at tonight’s basketball game,” which showed the two icons standing side by side. But when the focus was on them, DBK was seen having a casual conversation with Rebekah Allick’s mother at the bleachers. Maybe it was just small talk, or maybe, just maybe, it was a glimpse of the game plan she was already cooking up for Nebraska’s volleyball future.