If you type John Cook into TikTok’s search box, chances are, you’ll find Coach Cook’s name right below BTS’s Jung Kook. Regardless of your opinion on the K-Pop group, it’s undeniable that coming second to the BTS member is a huge win on the popularity scale. So it’s safe to say former Nebraska volleyball assistant coach Jordan Larson has a mountain to climb.

That’s because the 68-year-old John Cook turned out to be a TikTok star, garnering over 108,000 followers by featuring on TikToks primarily filmed by his pupils Harper Murray, Lexi Rodriguez, and others. However, after Rodriguez graduated and Cook retired, Larson has now found herself in that role.

Although, neither Lexi Rodriguez nor Jordan Larson are at Nebraska volleyball anymore, the duo is featured on Rodriguez’s TikTok alongside their LOVB Omaha teammates. What’s more? The former Libero who once made TikToks with Cook explained that it was Larson’s idea.

Even Coach Cook’s favorite player (unofficially) Harper Murray wrote, “Jordan, bro,” in the comments section. Harper Murray, who took the initiative to get Coach John Cook on TikTok, could definitely relate. While it may be too early to call this the beginning of Larson’s TikTok journey, there is certainly potential, judging by the response.

While Lexi Rodriguez’s TikTok featuring Jordan Larson is yet to reach the millions of views Coach Cook did, it has over 330,000 views and 68,600 likes in less than 24 hours. However, Rodriguez and Larson will have to continue the Harper-Cook TikTok dynamic as ex-Nebraska Huskers, as there’s no immediate possibility of the Olympian returning to her previous position.

John Cook spilled the beans on why Jordan Larson left NU

Huskers fans were reeling from the sudden departure of Larson as the program’s assistant coach following the 2024 season when Cook himself retired from coaching college volleyball after 25 years at NU. And while the AVCA Coach of the Year’s retirement shocked the college volleyball world, Larson’s departure remained a topic of discussion among the fans.

In fact, the former Huskers head coach also revealed exactly what Larson had told him last year. “She kind of had to make a decision of ‘I’m either going to do this or I’m going to coach,'” Cook said about his conversation with Jordan Larson in December 2024. However, the NCAA title-winning head coach was happy that Larson chose to play in the LOVB.

“They’re paying her really well, she’s still playing really well, and she signed a contract to play next year as well. It’s hard to do both. She might as well play while she can play. She’s the Tom Brady of volleyball,” Cook told Huskers Extra in January. However, playing for LOVB Omaha wasn’t a decision Larson took lightly. Besides talking to John Cook, she also spoke to the Huskers administration.

NU’s sports administrator Kristen Brown also recalled her conversation with Larson. While she lamented losing the Olympic gold medalist as the program’s assistant coach, she also expressed happiness for Larson going pro with the LOVB. And while Jordan Larson’s team isn’t exactly dominating the league, she seems to be enjoying the challenge.