In three decades as a coach who traveled the entire country, John Cook never saw something on a college campus like there is now at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
On Thursday, a statue of Cook was unveiled as a permanent tribute to the school’s legendary volleyball coach and the four national championships Nebraska won with him as coach.
The backdrop for the ceremony was the 8,000-seat arena where the team plays and that’s now also named for him.
On another side of that arena when thousands of people drive to Nebraska football games they’ll drive down Antelope Valley Parkway, look to their left and see a sign that reads, “Bob Devaney Sports Center, John Cook Arena” in big, bright letters.
Maybe it’s really true that there is no place like Nebraska, at least when it comes to the Husker volleyball program.
Nebraska honored Cook on Thursday, seven months after his retirement and after enough time to finalize plans for a plaza outside the arena as a tribute to Cook and the program he took to the next level after coach Terry Pettit retired.
Athletic Director Troy Dannen was probably going to build a statue this fall even if Cook was still coaching. But now Cook was able to enjoy it more.
At least 20 former players attended. Cook was surprised and excited when he saw the Olympic libero, Kayla Banwarth, had traveled to be there.
Cook’s Huskers were a major source of pride for the state and one of the state’s connections to the country. Each of the past four national championships in Nebraska’s major sports were won by the volleyball team, in 2000, ‘06, ‘15 and ’17.
Cook still remembers what it was like to return to Lincoln as national champions.
“We had police escorts and all of that so I was like, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’ It was always a big deal,” he said.
The sculptural artist, George Lundeen, was there. The photo of Cook used to make the statue was taken in the moment’s after Nebraska’s legendary Memorial Stadium match in 2023 that set a world record with 92,003 fans. The details on the sculpture are incredible, including the notebook that Cook used for years to signal in serves, and a championship ring on his hand.
The significance of being honored with his name on the arena and a statue isn’t lost on Cook.
“The fact that it’s a women’s sport is huge,” Cook said. “(That it’s) the sport of volleyball also makes it huge. Nebraska is the epicenter of volleyball in this country and so it’s only fitting to me that this goes up to honor Nebraska volleyball here. It kind of sets the stage for the rest of the country, like Nebraska volleyball is important and it’s a big deal and we’re putting up all of this to make sure it’s a symbol for all of that.
“It still blows my mind, to be honest with you, that they’ve done this.’
Near the statue is a list of Cook’s accomplishments, including the 72 All-American awards that went to players he coached and the outdoor match.
For Cook, it’s special to think about how a mother and daughter may stop there on the day they get to attend their first match together.
The stadium match was mentioned several times Thursday — it was the culmination of what Cook had built the previous 20 years with a team that consistently won at a high level.
“The single greatest women’s event probably not just in the history of Nebraska, but our country and maybe worldwide,” Dannen said.
New head coach Dani Busboom Kelly was one of the speakers, and took the attendees inside the team room to share a story of how much Cook cared.
Busboom Kelly was an assistant coach at the time of the story, and Cook’s daughter, Lauren was a player.
“(Lauren) told the team, ‘You guys have no idea how much my dad loves you and how much time he spends here,’” Busboom Kelly said.
In his remarks, Cook spoke of how proud he is that part of his legacy is that three former players are now leading the program: Busboom Kelly, assistant coach Kelly (Hunter) Natter and program director Lindsay Peterson.
The current team — ranked No. 1 in the country — attended the event, soon after practice.
“I love watching you guys playing,” he said to them.
Cook’s wife, Wendy, was sitting in the front row, and he got emotional when it came time to thank her.
“None of this happens without my wife, Wendy. None of it,” he said. “She raised our kids, she put up with my crap all of the time. She had to go through the highs and lows of coaching.”
Cook worked hard, and pushed his players hard, but he also took time to appreciate what the program had become and celebrate the big moments.
He told a story from 2017 when Nebraska staged an epic comeback to beat No. 1 Penn State in five sets in the NCAA Tournament semifinals.
That week was one of the times you saw how big the program had become as thousands of Nebraska fans followed the team to Kansas City, Missouri, in a scene reminiscent of a college football bowl game.
After the semifinal win, Cook and some of the coaches and staff celebrated at the hotel.
”It was a beautiful night, we’re on top of this plaza hotel — a big rooftop thing — and we’re all smoking cigars. It was unbelievable,” he said. “Those are the little things that make it worth it, when you work so hard. We coach 364 days a year for that one opportunity to play for a national championship.”
Two nights later, Cook won the last of his four national championships.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.
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