John Cook Gives Crucial Advice to Nebraska Huskers While Highlighting Devaney Arena’s Success: “(Players) Own It”

In his twenty-five years as the Huskers’ head coach, John Cook has achieved almost everything. From winning the NCAA title 4 times to multiple Big Ten accolades, there are few feats that Nebraska is left to display in its trophy cabinet. However, there have also been a few additional factors that have helped the team attain success in the collegiate scene.

In 2013, the Huskers moved to the Devaney Center as their volleyball home arena. Since then, the venue has been part of some of Coach Cook’s best moments with his squad. With the tradition of volleyball fans showing up in throngs to support the team at every opportunity, one would be compelled to think of the Bob Devaney Center as the San Siro of USA’s collegiate volleyball. Naturally, despite his time as the top man of the Huskers program coming to an end, Cook thinks moving out of the iconic location shouldn’t be a debatable topic.

John Cook is skeptical if other locations would offer what the Bob Devaney Center does

A post by Hurrdat Sport’s Hail Varsity from February 4 has shared what could be next in line for Nebraska’s former coach. The post also highlights Cook’s views on the Pinnacle Bank Arena and his feelings about the Huskers leaving behind the Devaney Center for the PBA. The social media update narrates what Cook told Nebraska’s athletic director Troy Dannen about the current home arena of the Huskers. “I asked Coach about PBA, what are your thoughts on it?” Dannen said. “[Devaney] is the greatest home court advantage. The players have their locker room, the players practice there. It is their building, they own it,” the post reads.

“…it’s a great advantage for us. So continue to enhance it, grow it,” John told Dannen that the Devaney Center should be better equipped for the future, instead of being replaced with another venue. However, Nebraska will open its season at the PBA in the AVCA First Serve Showcase, even though a permanent move is not in the books just yet.

Instead, the Devaney Center is slated to add 1,500 seats to expand its seating capacity to 10,000 for the 2026 season, Dannen revealed. But how could that assist John Cook’s successor in her new responsibility as the Huskers head coach?

The iconic location could tip the scales for the new HC

Only days ago, Dani Busboom Kelly was announced to take over Cook’s job. Kelly, a Nebraska alum herself, took the Louisville Cardinals to the 2024 NCAA finals, where they lost to Penn State. In his retirement presser, Cook hailed his former athlete as the “right person” for the job. In the recent Hail Varsity post as well, it was again highlighted how John feels it is his greatest accomplishment to leave the team in the hands of Kelly. Moreover, Cook also signed five electrifying new athletes for the 2025 season before announcing his intentions to clear out his office, to ensure his successor doesn’t feel short-handed in the quest to retain Nebraska’s dominance. The Huskers Nation will also be sure to stand firm in her corner, making sure Kelly doesn’t feel the pressure.

Along with the players and the coaching staff, the Huskers Nation has been a steady supply of cheers for the squad at every possible game. The Devaney Center boasts some of the highest crowd gatherings in USA’s collegiate volleyball history, which underscores how Nebraska fans are also a major contributing factor to the team’s success. Furthermore, last season, the Huskers maintained an incredible 43-match winning streak on their home turf, dating all the way back to 2022.

With the airline trouble that raised a lot of eyebrows last December, John Cook got to know that the Huskers will have all of its NCAA Championship matches till the regional finals at the Devaney Center. Naturally, he was relieved. “The great thing is when you’re at home, we get to stay in our rhythm,” he said about the edge the team would get playing in familiar surroundings. So what would you say? Would you love to see Kelly’s first season exploits unfolding at the iconic location? Or would you prefer seeing a new venue for the new coach? Tell us!