John Cook is stepping down.
The Nebraska women's volleyball coach announced on Wednesday that he is retiring after 25 years with the Cornhuskers.
Cook leaves as one of the most successful head coaches in Division I women's volleyball, winning four national championships and finishing with an overall record of 883-176.
"I've been here for 25 years. That’s a long time to do something. It’s been a great run," Cook said in a statement. "I want to thank my family for their support and Bill Byrne and Terry Pettit for giving me the chance to coach Nebraska volleyball. I’ve been lucky to work with great coaches and staff over the years, and I’m forever grateful for their hard work and dedication to Nebraska volleyball."
.jpg)
In his 25 seasons at Nebraska, John Cook turned the Cornhuskers into a powerhouse in women’s volleyball. Under his leadership, the team won four national championships, made 12 NCAA semifinal appearances, reached eight NCAA finals, and secured nine Big 12 titles and five Big Ten titles.
.jpg)
"For me, the greatest achievement in coaching is seeing former players succeed in coaching or other careers, using the lessons they learned as Nebraska volleyball players in their daily lives," Cook said in his statement. "There is no greater reward in coaching than that. Most importantly, I want to thank the fans for always supporting Nebraska volleyball. I’ve always said, ‘Dream Big,’ and we have dreamed bigger than any volleyball program in history."
According to Nebraska’s press release, Cook’s career winning percentage of .834 ranks as the fifth-highest of all time for a Division I volleyball coach. His 722-103 record at Nebraska also gives the program the highest winning percentage (.875) of any Division I team over the past 25 years.
.jpg)
"John Cook leaves behind a legacy of excellence that puts him among the greatest coaches in college sports history, no matter the sport," Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen said in a statement. "John took over one of the top programs in the country 25 years ago and made it even better.
"... Thanks to his leadership, Nebraska volleyball has become one of the most successful women’s programs in the country and has helped the sport reach a level of popularity it has never seen before."
Cook won his first of four national championships at Nebraska in his debut season in 2000 when the Huskers defeated Wisconsin in the national title game. Nebraska became only the second team in NCAA history to complete an undefeated season while winning the championship.
With their victory over Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals, the Cornhuskers reached the NCAA semifinals for the seventh time in the last 10 years. Their 33 wins this season tied the program's record for most wins in a season since the 2000 championship team.
Cook’s impact at Nebraska goes beyond the volleyball court. He has helped grow the sport in Nebraska and across the country. Since 2001, the Cornhuskers have sold out 337 straight regular-season home matches—the longest sellout streak in NCAA women’s sports history.
In 2023, Cook and Nebraska set a world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event when they played Omaha in the Cornhuskers' football stadium. According to Nebraska’s press release, 11 of the 12 largest crowds in NCAA women's volleyball history have been for matches featuring a Cook-led Nebraska team.
Before joining Nebraska in 2000, Cook spent seven seasons coaching at Wisconsin.
Shortly after Cook’s announcement, Nebraska shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Louisville volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly will replace Cook as the program’s fourth head coach. Busboom Kelly, who led Louisville to a national runner-up finish this year, previously played and coached at Nebraska.
Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball - Volleyball team
Head coach - Baseball coaching position
Nebraska Cornhuskers football - Football team
University of Louisville Women's Volleyball - Topic
Jordan Larson - American volleyball player
.jpg)
0 Comments