Besides winning four Olympic medals with Team USA, Jordan Larson has also worked as the Nebraska Huskers assistant coach. Despite her busy schedule, Larson has brought Olympic-level experience to the Huskers camp in 2023. In fact, the former Huskers alum was paramount in helping Nebraska’s outsider hitters improve in the last two years.

Jordan Larson didn’t skip her duty as assistant coach despite 2024 being an Olympic year. Not only that, but the success that the LOVB Omaha star brought Nebraska after winning silver in Paris inspired the young college volleyball stars at NU. However, coach John Cook made a heartbreaking announcement about Larson’s future at NU on Monday.

The Nebraska Husker head coach announced the Olympian has decided to part ways with NU after two years as assistant coach. “Following the season, Jordan Larson informed me that she has decided to move on,” John Cook said in a statement. The news took fans by surprise. “I’m gonna need a minute,” commented one stunned fan on Lincoln Arneal’s post.

The Huskers Illustrated reporter posted about ‘The Governor’s’ decision to leave a coaching staff and how John Cook felt about it. Needless to say, John Cook didn’t feel any different from the fans. “While I am disappointed we won’t have her on staff anymore, I am thankful to Jordan for all that she has done for our program over these past two seasons,” said the 68-year-old coach.

“She will be missed,” added the Nebraska Huskers coach while passing the LOVB founding athlete. Cook was grateful to Larson for balancing the Olympics and mentoring the young stars at NU. Coach Cook also didn’t forget to wish the volleyball legend on her future endeavors in elevating pro volleyball in the USA. The busiest part of Larson’s career may have just started.

Fans bid a bittersweet farewell to the Nebraska Huskers assistant coach

The sadness was palpable among the fans who commented on the post. While they were happy for Larson, they couldn’t help but think about how her loss would impact Nebraska in the coming season. “Gov was instrumental in the development we saw in Harper Murray during the 2024 season. She will be seriously missed,” said one fan, citing Larson’s positive impact.

And the fan was right about Harper Murray’s improvements. Despite having a tough off-season, Murray bounced back better than ever, scoring 411 kills throughout the 2024 season. She even reaches incredible season highs, like scoring 22 kills in a single match. Many fans had high hopes that Larson would continue in her path of honing the Nebraska Huskers as their assistant coach.

“Any guesses why she is stepping down? I’m SO sad about this,” said one fan. The volleyball enthusiast even thought Jordan Larson would ultimately succeed John Cook. “I thought she would replace Cook. Is she going to start training more possibly? I thought she was happy to be back in Nebraska,” speculated one netizen.

While Larson hasn’t elaborated on why she decided to leave, the fan may be on to something. On January 26, the Olympic gold medalist took to the court to play LOVB Omaha’s first home game at Liberty First Credit Union Arena. The now-former Nebraska Huskers assistant coach described playing for a team from Nebraska after so many years as surreal.

“It’s been almost 15 years. Almost in tears, like driving to practice, like in my own car, and I get to go to my own house… It’s just like, so surreal,” explained the Olympic icon. So it’s clear that the LOVB Omaha member will now devote a lot of time to her professional career. And yet Larson leaving Nebraska right after so many star seniors, felt like another huge blow to many fans.

Several Nebraska Huskers stars, such as Lexi Rodriguez, Merritt Beason, Lindsey Krause, and more, graduated in 2024. The departure of the senior batch was the end of an era at NU. Now, Larson joining the graduate students has only added to that sadness for several fans. However, not everyone expressed their sadness, as they may have seen this coming.

“I’m not surprised one bit,” commented another fan. The netizen may have guessed Larson could no longer commit to NU amid playing the inaugural season of the pro league she helped create. Yet, what do you believe? Drop your best guesses in the comments.