When John Cook finally stepped away from the sidelines two months back, it wasn’t just a ‘one thing led to another’ kinda deal—nah, it was, in his own words, a whole “series of things” that lined up like a quiet storm. And while Nebraska fans were hit hard by the news, one thing’s for sure—the man didn’t just leave the game, he left behind a legacy stitched into every inch of Huskers history. You can still hear his name echo through the halls of Devaney, like a legend whose footsteps never really faded.
And now? The University of Nebraska is seriously thinking of putting some serious respect on his name—like, literal bronze statue kinda respect. Word on the street is the Board of Regents is ready to drop a proposal to rename the volleyball arena after him—yep, “John Cook Arena” might be a real thing soon. That meeting goes down April 11. Until then, Cook’s name is still making waves… months after he said goodbye, he’s back in the headlines with a raw and honest take about his decision to call it a day.
When Hurrdat Sports hit John Cook with the big one—“Was walking away from the sport the hardest thing you think you’ve had to do in your career?”—he didn’t hesitate: “No no, I don’t feel like I’ve walked away yet.” And when the host joked, “They keep pulling you back,” Cook chuckled and said, “Yeah, you wouldn’t believe the amount of requests and things I’ve been asked to do.”
He admitted he’s been flooded with offers, but “I’ve turned down probably 80% of it just because it would mean I wouldn’t be able to do what I want to do.” Right now, what he wants is simple—“be with the Cowboys in Arizona” and then head to “Wyoming with my family.” The man’s soaking up peace, horses, and family time, and honestly? That’s the good life.
But don’t get it twisted—Cook’s still got his hands in the Husker game. “No, I don’t feel like I’m disconnected,” he said. He’s still texting Dani “pretty much texting and talking every day about revenue share and different things and recruiting,” and he’s making sure everything goes smooth for the “players that are committed here and signed that aren’t here yet in the freshman class.” So while he may not be on the sidelines in his usual spot, he’s very much in the loop, still steering the ship from behind the curtain. As he said, loud and clear—“I don’t feel like I’ve walked away yet.” And let’s be real—Nebraska probably doesn’t either.
And yeah, ever since Coach Cook hung up the whistle, life’s been anything but chill. As he straight-up joked, “I just—I think I need a full-time manager to manage all the requests that are coming in because everybody thinks, you know, I’m retired now, I got all this free time and nothing to do.” Spoiler alert: he’s got zero free time. From invites flyin’ in hot to interviews stackin’ up like pancakes, the man’s been busier than ever—just minus the courtside whistle. But hey, he also let us in on a little secret—the moment it clicked. The moment he realized it was time to pass the torch and ride into that Arizona sunset.
John Cook reveals the moment that led to his retirement!
When John Cook sat down with Hurrdat Sports, he didn’t sugarcoat a thing. When asked if he had any ‘this could be it’ moments last season, he didn’t miss a beat—“Yeah, I had a moment when we were at Wisconsin. It kind of hit me there.” And it wasn’t some grand epiphany either. Just a low-key moment chilling with Lindsay Krause after a pre-game meal. He told her, “I don’t know. I’m just having this feeling like, you know, this is—what else is there to do?” That’s when the gears started turning.
And while Nebraska absolutely cooked Wisconsin that night—sweeping them 3-0 in front of a rowdy crowd—it wasn’t just about the scoreboard for Coach Cook. The little life whispers started creeping in. Time with his grandkids started meaning more than another win. “Lauren’s getting ready to have another baby and I got a four-year-old granddaughter asking me where I’m at…” Yeah, that one stung. It wasn’t just volleyball tugging at him anymore—it was the whole family wave, rolling in hard and fast.
But what sealed it? It was straight out of a Hallmark movie, Nebraska edition. He said it happened in a retirement home in Ord. As he was leaving, an older gentleman looked at him and asked, “Who’s going to be the next coach?” and without skipping a beat added, “It’s going to be the Louisville girl.” And boom—that was it. Just like that. Even his daughter Lauren admitted, “I saw an article, and it said former Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook, and I thought, ‘Whoa! That sounds weird.’” Yeah, weird’s an understatement.
The post ‘Turned Down’: John Cook Makes Honest Confession Months After Parting Ways With Nebraska Volleyball appeared first on EssentiallySports.