It’s wild to think it’s already been almost four months since John Cook officially stepped away from the Nebraska volleyball sidelines, but let’s be real; it still feels like he’s just taking a timeout. His fingerprints are everywhere; from packed arenas to championship banners fluttering like proud red whispers in the rafters. “I’ve been here for 25 years. That’s a long time to do something. It’s been a great run,” Cook said, and what a run it was. With 32 seasons under his coaching belt, seven in Wisconsin and 25 pure gold ones in Nebraska, he stacked up four national titles, a dozen trips to the NCAA Semis, and enough conference bling to make any trophy case blush. His career record?

A jaw-dropping 883-176, sitting comfortably among the sport’s elite. Nebraska alone? 722 wins, just 103 losses. That’s .875 winning magic. As Nebraska’s AD Troy Dannen put it, the man didn’t just elevate an already stellar program; he changed the game. “John Cook leaves a legacy of excellence… behind his vision, Nebraska volleyball has become arguably the most successful women’s program in the country.” And now, John Cook spills the tea on turning down a massive coaching gig while he was still building his volleyball empire at Nebraska.

When John Cook sat down for a little heart-to-heart with the folks at Journal Star, the big question came flying in: “How many times in the past 20 years did a college try to hire you away from Nebraska?” And with that signature cool and calm Cook charm, he didn’t flinch. He just grinned and dropped the truth bomb we didn’t see coming: “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.” Not even a whisper from other programs could shake his loyalty to that red-and-white heartbeat of Nebraska volleyball.

And honestly? He kinda gets it. In his own words, “I think in volleyball they just think, ‘Oh, he’s already one of the highest-paid coaches, so we don’t want to pay that.’” Translation? Cook’s résumé was so stacked, and his Nebraska legacy so golden, that it probably scared off most other suitors from even making a move. Why poke the lion when he’s already ruling his pride?

Back in 2024, John Cook wasn’t just busy stacking wins, he was sealing the deal on an epic new contract extension with Nebraska. Yep, the Huskers locked in their volleyball legend through the 2028 season, tossing in a cool $75K raise to bump his yearly paycheck to $825K. But wait; it gets better. Cook, being the cowboy soul he is, asked for some help buying a top-tier horse (yup, you read that right). And while AD Troy Dannen didn’t exactly sign the saddle papers, he did drop a sweet \$70K retention bonus so Cook could lasso his dream horse, the elite No. 415 from the iconic Pitzer Ranch.

Now let’s talk flex. In 2023, Cook raked in nearly $1 million in total compensation, stacking bonuses like he stacks national titles. That paycheck officially made him the highest-paid college volleyball coach in the game, leapfrogging Texas coach Jerritt Elliott and leaving other top coaches trailing far behind. So indeed, matching his budget? Quite difficult. And guess what? Even after retirement, Cook has rejected a few offers.

John Cook continues to reject offers after retirement!

Back in ’99, Nebraska was staring at the end of an era and the start of something brand new. Terry Pettit, a legend in his own right, was stepping down and already had his eye on the perfect guy to carry the torch: John Cook. But before Cook made it official, he asked for a face-to-face with then-athletic director Bill Byrne. That meeting? Just two minutes long. But in that tiny window, Byrne made a promise that sealed the deal: he’d never tell Cook “no.” And that quick handshake moment sparked a 25-year dynasty that brought in four NCAA titles, five Big Ten trophies, and a legacy that’s now looking statue-worthy literally.

But just because he called it a career doesn’t mean Cook has disappeared into the Wyoming wilderness just yet. When Hurrdat Sports asked him if leaving volleyball was the hardest move of his career, Cook kept it real: “No, no, I don’t feel like I’ve walked away yet.” And when the host joked, “They keep pulling you back,” Cook laughed and admitted, “Yeah, you wouldn’t believe the amount of requests and things I’ve been asked to do.” He’s been flooded with calls and offers, but said, “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, which is be with the Cowboys in Arizona and then be in Wyoming with my family.”

Behind the scenes, Cook is still stirring the pot. Athletic director Troy Dannen even hinted that Cook could be staying on in a new role, possibly as “special assistant to the athletic director.” While it’s not official yet, Cook says he’s been helping Dani Busboom Kelly settle into her new gig. “I don’t feel like I’m disconnected. Dani and me are pretty much texting and talking every day about revenue share and different things, and recruiting,” he shared. “So, I don’t feel like I’ve walked away yet.” And in true Cook fashion, he joked about how hectic retirement life really is: “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.” Plot twist: he’s got no time at all.