John Cook talks retirement after 25 years as Nebraska volleyball’s head coach

Nolan Dorn, Mark Fischer,

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska volleyball legend John Cook spoke about his decision to retire Thursday morning during a press conference at the Hawks Championship Center.

The conference started with tears while Cook expressed his decision to retire didn’t come from a moment, but a feeling.

He said he missed a lot of moments with his kids while he was coaching, and with his daughter having a baby, he wants to be there for his grandkids.

Cook said he wanted to go out on top, emotionally.

He said the last two years has been the most fun he’s ever had coaching volleyball, and he felt now was the right time to pass the torch.

Cook thanked his coaches and players. He also thanked Dannen for getting this done quickly and quietly.

He also touched on passing the program off to new head coach Dani Busboom Kelly.

Cook said that Busboom Kelly is the right person for the job, and he wanted to give her the best shot possible at keeping Nebraska a powerhouse.

Her familiarity with the program and the coaching staff will make for a smooth transition, Cook said.

Cook also said that Busboom Kelly’s most recent contract extension with Louisville had a non-buyout clause for Nebraska, meaning she wanted to come back home.

Cook joked, saying that she will dress a lot better than he did on the sidelines.

After the laughs, Cook said the players will do everything they can to make Dani comfortable in her new role.

His biggest advice to the new coach is to trust herself in everything she does and to surround herself with people that will make her successful.

Cook ended the news conference expressing his greatest accomplishment as the head coach of Nebraska volleyball: getting to hand off the program to one of his former players.

“Hell yeah I’m going to miss it, but I am going to be the biggest cheerleader I can,” he said.

This isn’t the last time we will see Cook, as he expressed his interest in being involved with the athletic department and helping the players out in any way he can.

“Go Big Red,” Cook said as he left the podium for the final time.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Nebraska volleyball’s longtime leader is discussing his retirement Thursday morning at a news conference.

You can watch the news conference live when it begins around 10 a.m. on Channel 8 and in this web browser.

In a shock to Husker nation and the volleyball world, Cook announced his retirement in a press release Wednesday afternoon.  He coached at Nebraska for 25 years and won four national championships.

“It’s been a great run,” he said in a press release. “I want to thank my family for their support, and I want to thank Bill Byrne and Terry Pettit for giving me the opportunity to be the Nebraska volleyball coach.”

Almost immediately after that announcement, Nebraska named Dani Busboom Kelly as the program’s new head coach.

Busboom played under Cook before serving as one of his assistant coaches at Nebraska.  She then became Louisville’s head coach in 2017.

Several notable Nebraska figures reacted to the news on social media, including Sen. Pete Ricketts, Gov. Jim Pillen and former Husker football player Will Compton.


Other Nebraska coaches, like Matt Rhule, Amy Williams and Rhonda Revelle, voiced their support for the longtime coach.

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