Dani Busboom Kelly is stepping into some really big shoes. In the twenty-five years that John Cook was the top man of the Huskers, he took the Nebraska volleyball program to unforeseen heights. Winning 4 NCAA titles and numerous All-American honors, the former coach established himself as a stalwart of the game. That being said, DBK’s achievements aren’t too shabby either.

With four ACC crowns and two NCAA Championships matches under her belt, she knows enough about success to honor Cook’s legacy in Nebraska. And thankfully, people from the old empire will be nearby to help her along the way.

An X post by Huskers Illustrated’s Lincoln Arneal from February 3 reveals that John Cook’s assistant coaches will retain their posts in Kelly’s kingdom. “Jaylen Reyes and Kelly Hunter signed new contracts that will keep them at Nebraska through Jan. 31, 2026,” reads the post, highlighting that their contracts have been renewed for only one year for now by Nebraska volleyball authorities.

Reyes joined Cook’s club in 2018 and has since become a crucial asset to the Huskers thanks to his prolific work with the squad’s liberos and defensive players. Reyes is also the head coach of the Huskers’ beach volleyball team and has so far helped the indoor team rank in the nation’s top-10 defensive lines 5 times. It was Jaylen’s wisdom that helped fresh graduate Lexi Rodriguez bag AVCA All-American honors thrice. Reyes was also instrumental in helping the USA national team win the U21 NORCECA Continental Championship in 2024.

Hunter, on the other hand, a former Nebraska volleyball athlete herself, came on board in 2021. She has been involved with the Huskers for 10 seasons, as either a player or as a coaching staff, and helped the team post a top-10 finish in each of those years. What’s more? She was also the brains behind Bergen Reilly becoming the first freshman to win the Big Ten Setter of the Year. Naturally, such talent calls to be retained, and the top people in Lincoln didn’t think otherwise. “Reyes will make $170,000 while Hunter will get $125,000, which is the same around they were paid the past year,” Arneal’s social media update further shared details of the renewed contract. But the coaching staff aren’t the only ones who will carry Coach Cook’s legacy in the coming days to help Dani Busboom Kelly in her new job.

John Cook’s parting gifts to Nebraska volleyball

Over the span of two-and-a-half decades, John Cook has coached some of the most incredible volleyball stars in the country. Thanks to his imparted knowledge, many of them have gone on to shine even after graduating from Nebraska. Athletes like Justine Wong-Orantes and Jordan Larson have even brought glory to the country from the Olympic stage, undoubtedly benefitting from Cook’s teachings. Even as Cook pondered the chances of leaving his post, he worked overtime to ensure the squad didn’t suffer because of the five seniors leaving the team at the end of the 2024 campaign.

With that in mind, Cook roped in some of the top recruits for the Class of 2025, including U.S. Girls U19 and U21 team member Campbell Flynn, first-team all-state selection Ryan Hunter, and Gatorade Arizona Volleyball Player of the Year Teraya Sigler. In the few short days that he got to spend with the fresh joiners, Cook also started to get to know them personally so that the new recruits felt comfortable in their new home as Nebraska volleyball stars.

With DBK at the steering and scintillating new athletes on board, will the Huskers continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA scene? What do you think? Tell us below!