And just like that, Nebraska bid farewell to the legend himself. Nebraska said goodbye to the legend. January 30 will always be a painful memory for the fans of the University of Nebraska as John Cook, the man responsible for four national titles, retired from the game. With more wins than any other Division I volleyball coach this century, he chose to leave while Nebraska was still soaring.

Cook kept it real at his final press conference, saying he wanted to leave the program in a great place and on a high note. “I have had more fun coaching the last two years with this group than I can remember coaching. It’s been a blast,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go out on top when it’s really fun and I’m enjoying a group.” But that press conference? It hit differently. That’s when it truly sank in—just how deep his impact runs. And now, John Cook has made an honest confession about his massive decision.

On February 2, Husker Volleyball shared a video where John Cook got real about his big announcement. He thought everything was smooth sailing—until the press conference. “That’s when it really hit me, like, okay, this is for real. Even telling the team was okay. Because, I don’t know, it was just, it felt right with the team, and it was more, I was more worried about them than anything I was thinking.” Suddenly, it wasn’t just a plan—it was happening.

Nebraska Director of Athletics, Troy Dannen had mapped it all out. “Here’s the plan, we’re going to do this announcement, we’re going to work together with Louisville, and the teams are going to be told at the same time, we’re going to announce right away that Dani’s the coach.” Cook called it “seamless, it was beautiful, it was top secret.” But then Troy warned him, “This state may go into mourning.” Cook, thinking nothing of it, replied, “I mean, this is just a coach retiring.”

But now, sitting in front of the camera, everything had changed. “I had no idea how many people have been impacted across the United States by Nebraska Volleyball.” Just as he said these words, the video cut to a heartwarming montage of Husker fans, young and old, cheering for the team and their beloved coach. They were in thousands! His impact? It was summed up beautifully in a placard that a young fan was holding up: “NEBRASKA IS EATING BC JOHN IS COOKING.” Well cook he did, and how!

In twenty-five years as Nebraska coach, Cook not only made the Huskers a powerhouse but was at the center of volleyball’s unprecedented rise in the U.S. After all, he coached the team that pulled in the highest attendance at any women’s sporting event in history. So, his exit hit hard, especially for Harper Murray. On January 30, the official account of Big Ten Volleyball posted clips from Cook’s press conference where the latter announced it. He remembered how he first informed Murray, saying that she cried, though in a way, it was easier because of that to inform the rest of the team.

Harper later poured her heart out on Instagram, writing, “I have the utmost love and respect for this man, and it’s truly almost impossible to put into words how much he means to me.” And it wasn’t just her—the entire Nebraska volleyball community felt the sting.

John Cook makes the entire Husker community emotional!

Everyone knows that John Cook is no longer going to be the coach for the Huskers, and the feeling of emptiness is quite similar to the loss of a dear one. But one fan said everything right when stating, “Thank you for everything Coach! 🐐”—because, seriously, Cook isn’t just any coach. He is the man who has been involved in 14 conference championships, 12 NCAA semifinals, and four national championships with Nebraska.

But it was not just Cook resigning from the position; it was a double blow. A couple of days before Cook’s announcement, Jordan Larson, who was coaching as an assistant, bid her team adieu. The timing? Well, this made this news even worse to digest.

And if that was not enough of a kick in the gut, Louisville fans got their own ‘RIP’ when their head coach, Dani Busboom Kelly, moved on to take up Cook’s legendary position at Nebraska. One fan wrote: “RIP Louisville Volleyball (2017-2024) 🪦” — because, yes, the changes are serious. Busboom Kelly is back at her alma matter, ready to continue the flame; however, it is quite clear that it is not an easy thing for all the parties involved.