I can not cease eager about the parallels between Nebraska volleyball and Nebraska soccer.
Each packages had their groundbreaking coach. The one who not solely knew he may win championships right here however truly went out and did it. Bob Devaney and Terry Pettit* have been pioneers who put Nebraska firmly on the map.
*Personally, I do not assume we totally respect every thing that Pettit did to take volleyball from glorified membership sport to state-wide obsession, however that may be a separate dialog for a distinct day.
When Devaney and Pettit retired, they put their packages within the fingers of a loyal assistant. Tom Osborne and John Prepare dinner each coached for 25 seasons, profitable a number of nationwide championships and taking their packages to unprecedented heights. Each retired at a comparatively younger age (Prepare dinner is 68, Osborne was 60) when it appeared they may proceed teaching for a number of years (extra on that in a bit).
Osborne famously handpicked his successor (Frank Solich), who was the presumptive alternative 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 along with his athletic administrators (Troy Dannen, and Trev Alberts earlier than him)
Solich and Busboom Kelly are each merchandise of their respective packages. Fearless Frankie the fullback performed for Devaney within the Nineteen 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 virtually eerie how comparable the tracks are between Nebraska’s two premier packages.
However there is a large 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 Title and Lincoln Southeast) and 4 seasons with Nebraska’s freshman workforce. This isn’t the time nor place to relitigate Frank’s time as Nebraska’s coach, so I will merely word 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 pinnacle 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 3 Last Fours and coached within the nationwide championship match twice within the final three seasons.
There may be plenty of strain on the shoulders of the homegrown nationwide champion who’s coming dwelling 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 assume 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 might 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 Last 4 can be his last match.
So why now? I’ve three theories:
- Prepare dinner wished to carry Dani again to Nebraska earlier than Louisville grew to become her everlasting dwelling. Even a volleyball novice like me may see the highly effective program Busboom Kelly was constructing. Her contract famously had a big buyout for each faculty – aside from Nebraska. However was there some extent on the horizon the place she would determine that Louisville was the place she wished to complete her profession? And was the day getting nearer?
- Prepare dinner wished to depart the cabinet full for Dani. Revisiting that soccer analogy, there may be one different large distinction between Solich and Busboom Kelly. Osborne left on the finish of an incredible championship run, when lots of the core gamers (Scott Frost, Ahman Inexperienced, Aaron Taylor, Grant Wistrom, Jason Peter, and so forth.) have been leaving too. The 1998 workforce (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 proper to stroll away on his phrases.
The transition was amazingly easy.
The timing of the bulletins – and orchestration between the 2 packages – is spectacular. There have been no leaks. No rumors. When is the final time you could possibly 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 together with her workforce. I am very impressed by her excessive consideration to element and want to deal with the gamers the proper means. 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 plenty 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 workforce 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 actually appears possible.
As for Larson leaving the Nebraska employees, it is sensible to me. Take into account 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 dwelling 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 needs to be a volleyball coach, she’ll be capable of try this for one more 30+ years. However her window to be an expert volleyball participant just isn’t going to remain open almost as lengthy. She’s an elite athlete and large 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 school senior in 2008, she will be able to really play at dwelling in entrance of household, associates, and followers. For as Larson nonetheless has her drive and bodily potential 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 concerned with 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 can be inheritor obvious when she joined Prepare dinner’s employees. Politely and respectfully, I will say that was not the plan. Even when Busboom Kelly weren’t concerned with leaving Louisville, there are many ripe apples on the John Prepare dinner teaching tree that will 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 trustworthy. She presently lacks the expertise wanted to run probably the greatest packages 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 might hope we’ve got discovered our lesson in regards to the dangers of hiring first time head coaches for top profile jobs.
John Prepare dinner’s legacy is gigantic.
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 robust case.
Unparalleled on-court success. 4 nationwide championships, 15 convention titles, a ridiculous .875 profitable share at NU (.834 total), and the numerous All-Individuals, Olympians, and legends he coached.
He grew this system to new heights. When Terry Pettit was constructing this system, you could possibly get right into a volleyball match free of charge if you happen to confirmed a ticket stub from a soccer sport. As we speak, volleyball has offered out 339 straight matches, with tickets extremely arduous to seek out, regardless of taking part in in an 8,000-seat area that’s the jewel of the game.
No strain, Dani.
Let’s shut by taking a look at some issues that can occur in Dani Busboom Kelly’s life over the following 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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