John Cook Explains Trust in Nebraska Volleyball Players Influencing His Retirement Decision: “Had a Gut Feel”

After bidding adieu to the Nebraska Huskers volleyball, former head coach John Cook stated, “I’ve been here for 25 years. That’s a long time to do something. It’s been a great run,” and what a run it really was. Four national titles, packed houses screaming for the Huskers, and banners dancing in the rafters like red confetti dreams. Even though it’s been months since he stepped away from the Nebraska sideline, it still feels like he’s just grabbing a water break. And yeah, when the Journal Star asked if anyone ever tried to lure him away from his Husker kingdom, Cook gave a grin and a plot twist: “None. Well, (the United States national team) a couple of times tried to hire me, for the men and the women. That’s the only one.”

That’s it. No secret offers, no fancy pitches, just good ol’ Nebraska loyalty through and through. He even joked that schools probably figured he was “already one of the highest-paid coaches,” so why even bother? In 2024, he inked a shiny new deal through 2028, added $75K to his salary, and asked for some assistance in buying his dream horse (yes, actual horse). Nebraska didn’t blink; they dropped a $70K retention bonus so he could chase that cowboy dream. And now, John Cook opens up about how his deep trust in the Nebraska volleyball squad helped him make peace with stepping into retirement.

In a sit-down with Journal Star, the host tossed out a pretty loaded thought—something along the lines of, “After the season ended in December, you never got the phone call that a player was going into the transfer portal. That could have been a sign to keep coaching.” But Coach Cook? Oh, he didn’t even blink. He knew what time it was. “I knew nobody would go in the portal. The year before I was surprised we had four go in. I knew this group nobody would leave. I just had a gut feel. They were together, and they like each other.” That’s not just coach talk; that’s a man who felt the harmony humming through his squad like a well-tuned guitar.

Cook didn’t want to walk out bitter or burnt out. He wanted to peace out with his heart full and his spirit high. “That’s one of the reasons I decided to step away because it was such a great year to coach and so much fun. You’re not going to have groups like that every year. I wanted to go out with that feeling, and not like, ‘I hate this group, so I’m going to retire.’”

So, let’s rewind to 2023 real quick; Nebraska’s volleyball roster was kinda bursting at the seams, and something had to give. That’s when outside hitters Hayden Kubik and Caroline Jurevicius hit the transfer portal trail. Kubik still had two years left to ball out, and Jurevicius? She had a clean four years ahead of her to make waves elsewhere. And with two shiny new stars incoming for 2024; Olivia Mauch, the libero lightning from Bennington, and Skyler Pierce, the heavy-hitting outside threat outta Lenexa; well, somebody had to scoot. And guess what? There is another reason too!

John Cook reveals another reason for his retirement!

Less than a year ago, it looked like Coach John Cook was all set to keep rocking the Nebraska volleyball scene for at least another four years. I mean, he even signed a fresh four-year deal last May; pretty much locking in his spot through 2028. The Huskers themselves hyped it up on social media, saying, “Always dreaming bigger. Coach Cook has been extended through the 2028 season.” But, plot twist; just like that, on January 30, 2025, Cook dropped a total bombshell and announced he was calling it quits. The news hit the Huskers fam hard, and before anyone could really wrap their heads around it, Nebraska rolled out Dani Busboom Kelly as the new head coach to take the reins.

Almost a week after that jaw-dropper of a day, Cook opened up about the real game-changer behind his decision; the little family moments that started tipping the scales. He got real about how his four-year-old granddaughter threw him for a loop with a simple, heartfelt question: “I got a four-year-old granddaughter now who asked, ‘When am I going to see you?’… That starts wearing on you a little bit. They moved up to Wyoming during COVID; it’s been hard,” Cook shared with Lincoln Arneal and Jeff Sheldon on the Volleyball State Podcast. That question stuck with him like a whisper he couldn’t ignore.

Cook didn’t have a perfect answer then, but deep down, he knew what mattered most: soaking up every bit of time with his grandkids and family. With his daughter Lauren expecting a new baby, he realized this chapter was closing. “I want to be around those grandkids and my kids,” he said simply. Plus, after snagging four National Championships, he figured he’d already proved everything he needed to. So yeah, retirement wasn’t just a sudden move; it’d been bubbling in his mind ever since the 2024 season wrapped up.

With a sparkling 883-176 career record (and 722 of those wins in Nebraska red), he didn’t just coach volleyball; he crafted a dynasty. As Nebraska AD Troy Dannen said it best, “John Cook leaves a legacy of excellence… behind his vision, Nebraska volleyball has become arguably the most successful women’s program in the country.”