It was a very big news day for the Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball program, despite a rather quiet start. The biggest news of all, of course, is that legendary coach John Cook stepped down and strutted off into retirement. And for about five minutes there was an appropriate sense of panic as the most successful athletic program over the last two decades was tasked with finding a new leader.
And then, the program that has been run better than any in the athletic department, showed that it is once again, one of the best run in the country. Just minutes after his retirement, the Huskers announced Dani Busboom Kelly is taking over.
While Cooks boots are going to be impossible to fill, the Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team is replacing one coach who went ot the Final Four this season, with another coach who went to the Final Four this season. And its replacing Cook with one of the people who has almost certainly learned a great deal from him, as she played for him in Lincoln.
Nebraska Cornhuskers hit the ground running
In landing Busboom Kelly, the Huskers have made a move that will hopefully mean NU can just keep right on ticking. Certainly it would seem that it will be easier to keep a program together considering she got his stamp of approval.
Busboom Kelly has coached the Louisville Cardinals from 2017 until today. In those eight years, she posted a 203-44 record and won the ACC four times.
Under Kelly, an already decent Louisvileprogram would reach new heights including reaching the first Elite Eight in program history and reaching the national championship twice. She took the Cards to the championship game, loing in four sets to Penn State.
If there is anyone in the country that the Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team could have hired and not missed a beat while also having someone who understands what the program means to its fans, it is Dani Busboom Kelly. This is a massive hire and a great move to keep the momentum going.