Shortly after getting to know the coaching staff at Nebraska, Dani Busboom Kelly understood that every coach in the program had the versatility to teach everything. However, just because they could do everything doesn’t mean DBK saw it fit for every coach to focus on every aspect of the game. And so she gave everyone their designated position. Now the question is: How do the players feel about it?
“That’s really important to me that every player is interacting with every coach somewhat,” Dani Busboom Kelly told the media ahead of the upcoming spring game. Yet, do the players agree? The answer is yes, but the players have had to adapt to the change. Thankfully, it’s been the right kind of change. “Change can be scary, but it’s been pretty exciting so far,” said Huskers star Bergen Reilly.
However, things haven’t always been that way for teammate Harper Murray. “Sometimes, like, it’s a little weird hearing Kelly, like, in my ear, like, telling me to change things,” Murray said about the switch-up. Then again, Murray never felt pushed to do something she didn’t want in the last couple of months.
After all, John Cook’s departure was the biggest change, and she understands that everyone, including Dani Busboom Kelly, had to make adjustments, too. “I know on the coaches’ side of things, like, it’s hard for them, too,” added Murray. Yet, the keyword here is adjustment, because despite taking over as head coach, DBK didn’t want to overhaul the whole system.
Dani Busboom Kelly has adapted
They say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and BDK’s approach has followed this exact philosophy. After all, John Cook refined his system over a period of 25 years, and Kelly herself learned the ropes from the former head coach. So, instead of making sweeping changes, Coach Kelly has simply added to the existing one. “It wasn’t (about) reinventing the wheel here,” said the 39-year-old.
“I believe it comes from what John was doing,” added Dani Bussboom Kelly, before saying that she has spent her time making that system her own. And maybe that’s why stars like Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly have found change to be exciting. Even when they haven’t, it hasn’t been uncomfortable, because the blueprint of Kelly’s plans comes from John Cook.
However, the fact that familiar faces continue to guide them is also a big reason the players feel at ease. Despite John Cook retiring, none of the Huskers’ assistant coaches followed in his footsteps. So while DBK has tweaked their roles, assistant coaches Jaylen Reyes, Kelly (Hunter) Natter, and Brennan Hagar continue to mentor the Huskers. In fact, BDK had nothing but praise for them.
Speaking about Jaylen Reyes’ new responsibilities, DBK said: “He can really train any position. So he’s training the outside hitters, it looks like he’s having fun doing that,” revealed the coach, adding that this is the first time Reyes is doing so at Nebraska. She had similarly good things to say about Kelly Natter. “She’s come alive as a coach,” while training the Liberos, explained Kelly. Yet, the real good news is Huskers fans will only have to wait until May 3rd to find out how well these changes have worked so far.
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