In the twenty-five years that John Cook was the top man of the Huskers, he took the Nebraska volleyball program to unforeseen heights. Winning 4 NCAA titles and numerous All-American honors, the former coach established himself as a stalwart of the game.
So, for Dani Busboom Kelly, a towering challenge lies ahead, and she will have to pull up her socks fast. But her achievements aren’t too shabby either. And thankfully, people from the old empire will be nearby to help her along the way.
An X post by Huskers Illustrated’s Lincoln Arneal from February 3 reveals that John Cook’s assistant coaches will retain their posts in Kelly’s kingdom. “Jaylen Reyes and Kelly Hunter signed new contracts that will keep them at Nebraska through Jan. 31, 2026,” reads the post, highlighting that their contracts have been renewed for only one year for now by Nebraska volleyball authorities.
Reyes joined Cook’s club in 2018 and has since become a crucial asset to the Huskers thanks to his prolific work with the squad’s liberos and defensive players. Reyes is also the head coach of the Huskers’ beach volleyball team and has so far helped the indoor team rank in the nation’s top-10 defensive lines 5 times. It was Jaylen’s wisdom that helped fresh graduate Lexi Rodriguez bag AVCA All-American honors thrice. Reyes was also instrumental in helping the USA national team win the U21 NORCECA Continental Championship in 2024.
Jaylen Reyes and Kelly Hunter signed new contracts that will keep them at Nebraska through Jan. 31, 2026. (One-year deals are common for assistants.)
Reyes will make $170,000 while Hunter will get $125,000, which is the same around they were paid the past year.
— Lincoln Arneal (@Lincoln_VB) February 3, 2025
Hunter, on the other hand, a former Nebraska volleyball athlete herself, came on board in 2021. She has been involved with the Huskers for 10 seasons, as either a player or as a coaching staff and helped the team post a top-10 finish in each of those years. Naturally, such talent calls to be retained, and the top people in Lincoln didn’t think otherwise. “Reyes will make $170,000 while Hunter will get $125,000, which is the same around they were paid the past year,” Arneal’s social media update further shared details of the renewed contract. But the coaching staff aren’t the only ones who will carry Coach Cook’s legacy in the coming days to help Dani Busboom Kelly in her new job.
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