I can’t cease occupied with the parallels between Nebraska volleyball and Nebraska soccer.
Each applications had their groundbreaking coach. The one who not solely knew he might win championships right here however truly went out and did it. Bob Devaney and Terry Pettit* had been pioneers who put Nebraska firmly on the map.
*Personally, I do not suppose we totally recognize every little thing that Pettit did to take volleyball from glorified membership sport to state-wide obsession, however that may be a separate dialog for a special day.
When Devaney and Pettit retired, they put their applications within the palms of a loyal assistant. Tom Osborne and John Prepare dinner each coached for 25 seasons, profitable a number of nationwide championships and taking their applications to unprecedented heights. Each retired at a comparatively younger age (Prepare dinner is 68, Osborne was 60) when it appeared they might proceed teaching for a number of years (extra on that in a bit).
Osborne famously handpicked his successor (Frank Solich), who was the presumptive selection for the job. Prepare dinner has been a vocal supporter of Busboom Kelly, and I am certain his voice was heard when a succession plan was mentioned together with his athletic administrators (Troy Dannen, and Trev Alberts earlier than him)
Solich and Busboom Kelly are each merchandise of their respective applications. Fearless Frankie the fullback performed for Devaney within the Sixties and was a longtime assistant underneath Osborne. Dani Busboom was a setter and libero for Prepare dinner, serving to him win his second nationwide championship in 2006. As a Nebraska assistant for 5 seasons, she was on the bench for championship #3 (2015) and helped recruit the gamers for Nebraska’s most up-to-date title in 2017.
It is nearly eerie how related the tracks are between Nebraska’s two premier applications.
However there is a massive distinction between Solich and Busboom Kelly.
When he was promoted after the 1997 season, Frank Solich’s head teaching expertise was restricted to highschool (Omaha Holy Identify and Lincoln Southeast) and 4 seasons with Nebraska’s freshman group. This isn’t the time nor place to relitigate Frank’s time as Nebraska’s coach, so I am going to merely observe that he was fired for – within the opinion of his A.D. – not sustaining the usual the earlier two coaches had set.
However Busboom Kelly’s path to turning into Nebraska’s head coach is vastly completely different. She has spent the final eight seasons as the top coach at Louisville. She has constructed that program into an influence, first within the ACC (4 convention championships), after which on the nationwide stage. She took the Cardinals to a few Remaining Fours and coached within the nationwide championship match twice within the final three seasons.
There may be loads of strain on the shoulders of the homegrown nationwide champion who’s coming house to take over a storied program. Wait, this analogy is about Solich, not Scott Frost. To make sure, Dani is strolling right into a pressure-filled fishbowl with a ton of excessive expectations. However she will not be studying on the job.
No disrespect towards Frank Solich (or any of his successors), however Dani Busboom Kelly is considerably extra certified to take over a program of Nebraska’s caliber than any of the six soccer head coaches who’ve adopted Tom Osborne.
Why is Prepare dinner retiring now?
I do not suppose anyone – even those that are deeply tied to the volleyball program – noticed Prepare dinner retiring now.
Had Nebraska received the nationwide championship in 2023, I anticipated Prepare dinner to stroll away after a storybook season. It will have given the ESPN all-access documentary a Hollywood ending. However when he got here again for 2024, I assumed he would stick round till his biggest recruiting class (Harper Murray, Andi Jackson, and Bergen Reilly) graduated after the 2026 season. I by no means thought a heartbreaking loss within the 2024 Remaining 4 could be his last match.
So why now? I’ve three theories:
- Prepare dinner needed to convey Dani again to Nebraska earlier than Louisville grew to become her everlasting house. Even a volleyball novice like me might see the highly effective program Busboom Kelly was constructing. Her contract famously had a big buyout for each college – aside from Nebraska. However was there a degree on the horizon the place she would resolve that Louisville was the place she needed to complete her profession? And was the day getting nearer?
- Prepare dinner needed to depart the cabinet full for Dani. Revisiting that soccer analogy, there may be one different massive distinction between Solich and Busboom Kelly. Osborne left on the finish of an incredible championship run, when most of the core gamers (Scott Frost, Ahman Inexperienced, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom, Jason Peter, and so on.) had been leaving too. The 1998 group (9-4) lacked the established expertise of the groups earlier than or instantly after it. With Prepare dinner retiring now, Busboom Kelly is inheriting a roster that needs to be ranked – at worst – #5 within the preseason polls.
- It was time. Prepare dinner is 68. He has grandkids, a ranch in Wyoming, and horses to are likely to. He is earned the fitting to stroll away on his phrases.
The transition was amazingly easy.
The timing of the bulletins – and orchestration between the 2 applications – is spectacular. There have been no leaks. No rumors. When is the final time you can say that a few Nebraska teaching search? Do we’ve got to return to Osborne-Solich as soon as once more?
At Busboom Kelly’s request, Prepare dinner met with Nebraska’s gamers on the identical time she was assembly along with her group. I am very impressed by her excessive consideration to element and want to deal with the gamers the fitting approach. That could be a optimistic first impression.
It has already been introduced that prime assistants Jaylen Reyes and Kelly Hunter are being retained. Though a training change reopens the switch portal for Husker gamers, I do not count on loads of motion.
Do not learn an excessive amount of into Jordan Larson’s departure from this system.
On the floor, it is simple to see this timeline and make some assumptions:
The LOVB Omaha group has 5 former Huskers (and one Louisville Cardinal) on the roster. Their opponent (LOVB Madison) has the opposite two Cardinals within the league. It makes good sense for each coaches to be there. Did Busboom Kelly produce other conversations with Prepare dinner and/or Troy Dannen whereas she was on the town? Given the timing, that definitely appears possible.
As for Larson leaving the Nebraska employees, it is sensible to me. Think about Larson’s final 9 months: Assistant at Nebraska. Coaching for the Olympics. Go away for Paris to assist the U.S. win the silver medal. Come again house and proceed teaching whereas coaching for the beginning of a brand new skilled volleyball league that she is the face of.
I am exhausted simply typing that paragraph. Larson was burning the candle at each ends.
Here is the factor: If Jordan Larson desires to be a volleyball coach, she’ll be capable of do this for an additional 30+ years. However her window to be an expert volleyball participant is just not going to remain open almost as lengthy. She’s an elite athlete and super competitor, however time is undefeated.
In her 16-year professional profession, Larson has performed for groups throughout the globe (Puerto Rico, Russia, Turkey, China, and Italy). Now, for the primary time since she was a university senior in 2008, she will be able to actually play at house in entrance of household, associates, and followers. For as Larson nonetheless has her drive and bodily capability to finish (and it’s apparent that she does), she owes it to herself to proceed her professional profession. Belief me, groups will nonetheless be very inquisitive about having Jordan Freaking Larson as a coach after she retires as a participant.
I do know there was a portion of Nebraska followers (not essentially avid volleyball followers) who assumed that Larson could be inheritor obvious when she joined Prepare dinner’s employees. Politely and respectfully, I am going to say that was not the plan. Even when Busboom Kelly weren’t inquisitive about leaving Louisville, there are many ripe apples on the John Prepare dinner teaching tree that may have been plucked earlier than attending to Larson.
I don’t imply that to be disparaging towards Coach Larson. However it’s meant to be sincere. She at the moment lacks the expertise wanted to run among the best applications within the nation. Peyton Manning is a god in Tennessee, however the Volunteers aren’t going to rent him as their subsequent head coach. It’s the identical factor right here.
As a lot as Husker followers like to fill teaching vacancies with former Husker greats (“Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter needs to be co-defensive coordinators!”), I’d hope we’ve got realized our lesson concerning the dangers of hiring first time head coaches for prime profile jobs.
John Prepare dinner’s legacy is big.
Is John Prepare dinner the best coach on the College of Nebraska – ever? With out exploring the resumes of different contenders (Osborne, for one), Prepare dinner has a really sturdy case.
Unparalleled on-court success. 4 nationwide championships, 15 convention titles, a ridiculous .875 profitable share at NU (.834 general), and the various All-People, Olympians, and legends he coached.
He grew this system to new heights. When Terry Pettit was constructing this system, you can get right into a volleyball match totally free should you confirmed a ticket stub from a soccer recreation. Immediately, volleyball has bought out 339 straight matches, with tickets extremely exhausting to search out, regardless of enjoying in an 8,000-seat enviornment that’s the jewel of the game.
No strain, Dani.
Let’s shut by taking a look at some issues that may occur in Dani Busboom Kelly’s life over the subsequent seven months. In no explicit order (and certain lacking a number of key milestones), she is going to:
You bought this, DBK!
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