Husker fans give warm welcome to Dani Busboom Kelly

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — It was a packed house at the Devaney Center on Thursday afternoon as the new Husker volleyball head coach made her first arrival.

Dani Busboom Kelly received a warm welcome, with thousands of fans in attendance.

Some arrived as early as 1 p.m., when the doors opened.

“I think it’s going to be a continuation,” said Kathy Kieffe, a Husker fan since 1994. “She’s going to build the program and make it — I don’t know if she can improve on it — but it will continue to be good.”

SEE ALSO: Small Nebraska towns where Dani Busboom Kelly grew up are happy to have her home

The fans who were eagerly waiting to hear from DBK for the first time included students from her alma matter, Freeman Public Schools in Adams.

Buses of students from the tiny town took the field trip to witness this moment.

“It’s really cool,” one young girl said. “We’re from a small school, so you don’t see this often, but when you do, everybody shows up.”

SEE ALSO: Dani Busboom Kelly says it was ‘God’s timing’ for her to coach Nebraska

One young volleyball player said she was inspired by Busboom Kelly.

“It gives you a movement in your life to do what you do, to end up like her,” she said.

Busboom Kelly is now the fourth volleyball coach in Nebraska’s history, and one fan said now is her time.

“If you look at history, obviously she graduated here, and played here,” John Dingledine said. “She was an assistant under John Cook. What I’ve seen with interviews is that Cook gave her advice to leave Nebraska, and she did. But now here we are.”

The 39-year-old will take over a legacy that the next generation can’t wait to be a part of.

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