John Cook (coach)
Encyclopedia
John Cook is currently the head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball
team, entering his 11th season as head coach in 2010. He led the Huskers to two NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship
s, in 2000 by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers
, and in 2006 by defeating Stanford. He is a two time winner of the AVCA National Coach of the Year award. Through the 2010 season Cook has a 336–29 record at Nebraska. Prior to becoming head coach at Nebraska, Cook had a successful stint as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers
women's volleyball team, compiling a 161–73 record over seven seasons.
Cook graduated from the University of San Diego
, earning his bachelor's degree in history in 1979. He completed his master’s degree in teaching and coaching effectiveness from San Diego State in 1991.
Cook and his wife Wendy, a former two-time All-America setter at San Diego State, are the parents of two children, Lauren and Taylor. Lauren was the starting setter for UCLA during the 2009 season and garnered National Freshman of the Year honors. She announced in January, 2010 that she had transferred to Nebraska.
in 2000 as the coach at Nebraska. Thus far, Cook has guided the Huskers to 2 NCAA National Championships in 2000 and 2006, a NCAA National Runner-up finish in 2005, 5 Final Four appearances in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2008, and NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his years as coach. Cook was named the AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2005, the AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year in 1997 (Wisconsin), 2000, 2005, and 2008 as well as the Big 12 Conference
Coach of the Year in 2001, 2005, and 2008. He was also awarded the USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach Award
in 2008. In his first ten years as head coach at Nebraska, he has guided the Huskers to a 310–26 overall record and a 39–8 NCAA tournament record.
Cook has coached three AVCA National Players of the Year (Greichaly Cepero in 2000, Christina Houghtelling in 2005 and Sarah Pavan
in 2006). Pavan also won the Honda-Broderick Cup
in 2007 as the Collegiate Female Athlete of the Year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball
Nebraska is home to one of the nation's most storied collegiate women's volleyball programs. The Nebraska women's volleyball team has won three NCAA Women's Volleyball National Championships, in 1995, 2000, and 2006 and has had three NCAA National Runner-Up finishes in 1986, 1989, and 2005 as well...
team, entering his 11th season as head coach in 2010. He led the Huskers to two NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship
NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship
The NCAA has contested team championships in women's volleyball since 1981. The following is a list of the champions of each division with their record for the year in which they won the championship, and the runner up, city, site and other final four participants for division I...
s, in 2000 by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
, and in 2006 by defeating Stanford. He is a two time winner of the AVCA National Coach of the Year award. Through the 2010 season Cook has a 336–29 record at Nebraska. Prior to becoming head coach at Nebraska, Cook had a successful stint as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
women's volleyball team, compiling a 161–73 record over seven seasons.
Cook graduated from the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
, earning his bachelor's degree in history in 1979. He completed his master’s degree in teaching and coaching effectiveness from San Diego State in 1991.
Cook and his wife Wendy, a former two-time All-America setter at San Diego State, are the parents of two children, Lauren and Taylor. Lauren was the starting setter for UCLA during the 2009 season and garnered National Freshman of the Year honors. She announced in January, 2010 that she had transferred to Nebraska.
University of Nebraska
John Cook succeeded Terry PettitTerry Pettit
Terry Pettit is a retired American volleyball coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1977-1999 where he led his Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball team to the schools first NCAA National Championship in 1995 by defeating Texas in the final...
in 2000 as the coach at Nebraska. Thus far, Cook has guided the Huskers to 2 NCAA National Championships in 2000 and 2006, a NCAA National Runner-up finish in 2005, 5 Final Four appearances in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2008, and NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his years as coach. Cook was named the AVCA Division I National Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2005, the AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year in 1997 (Wisconsin), 2000, 2005, and 2008 as well as the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
Coach of the Year in 2001, 2005, and 2008. He was also awarded the USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach Award
USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball is a non-profit organization which serves as the national governing body of volleyball in the United States of America ....
in 2008. In his first ten years as head coach at Nebraska, he has guided the Huskers to a 310–26 overall record and a 39–8 NCAA tournament record.
Cook has coached three AVCA National Players of the Year (Greichaly Cepero in 2000, Christina Houghtelling in 2005 and Sarah Pavan
Sarah Pavan
Sarah Lindsey Pavan is a 6'5" Canadian volleyball player, who was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. She attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, USA where she graduated in 2008...
in 2006). Pavan also won the Honda-Broderick Cup
Honda-Broderick Cup
The Honda-Broderick Cup is a sports award for college-level female athletes. The awards are voted on by a national panel of more than 1000 collegiate athletic directors. It was first presented by the late Thomas Broderick, owner of a sports apparel company, in 1977, with the first award going to...
in 2007 as the Collegiate Female Athlete of the Year.
NCAA results
| Year | Record | NCAA Finish (National Seed) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 2000 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament -Honolulu Regional:-Los Angeles Regional:-Madison Regional:-Final Four – Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA:-National Semifinals:-Nebraska vs. Hawaii:... |
34–0 | National Champions (1) |
| 2001 2001 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2001 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on November 29, 2001 with 64 teams and ended December 15 when Stanford defeated Long Beach State 3 games to 0 in San Diego, California for the program's fifth NCAA title.... |
31–2 | National Semifinal (2) |
| 2002 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 5, 2002 with 64 teams and concluded on December 21 when Southern California defeated Stanford 3 games to 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana for the program's second NCAA title.... |
31–2 | Regional Final (3) |
| 2003 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 4, 2003 with 64 teams and ended December 18 when Southern California defeated Florida 3 games to 1 in Dallas, Texas for the program's third NCAA title.... |
28–5 | Regional Semifinal (9) |
| 2004 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2004 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 2, 2004 with 64 teams and ended December 18 when Stanford defeated Minnesota 3 games to 0 in Long Beach, California for the program's sixth NCAA title.... |
30–2 | Regional Final (1) |
| 2005 2005 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 1, 2005 with 64 teams and concluded on December 17, 2005, when Washington defeated Nebraska 3 games to 0 in San Antonio, Texas for the program's first NCAA title.... |
33–2 | National Runner-Up (1) |
| 2006 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on November 30, 2006 with 64 teams and concluded on December 16, 2006, when top ranked Nebraska defeated second ranked Stanford 3 sets to 1 in Omaha, Nebraska for the program's third NCAA title.... |
33–1 | National Champions (1) |
| 2007 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on November 29, 2007 with 64 teams and concluded on December 15, 2007 when Penn State defeated Stanford 3 games to 2 in Sacramento, California for the program's second NCAA title.... |
30–2 | Regional Final (2) |
| 2008 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2008 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 4, 2008 with 64 teams and concluded on December 20, 2008 when Penn State defeated Stanford, 3 sets to 0, in Omaha, Nebraska for the program's third NCAA title.... |
31–3 | National Semifinal (4) |
| 2009 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 3, 2009 with 64 teams and ended on December 19, when Penn State defeated Texas, 3-2, in the NCAA National Championship match. With the win, Penn State won its fourth overall title, and became the first team in the history of... |
26–7 | Regional Final (10) |
| 2010 2010 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament The 2010 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament began on December 2, 2010 and ended December 18, when Penn State swept California to win an unprecedented 4th straight NCAA title, making it their 5th overall... |
29–3 | Regional Semifinal (2) |
Big 12 results
Under Cook, Nebraska has won at least a share of every Big 12 title in nine of his eleven seasons.| Year | Conference Record | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20–0 | 1st |
| 2001 | 20–0 | 1st |
| 2002 | 20–0 | 1st |
| 2003 | 17–3 | 2nd |
| 2004 | 20–0 | 1st |
| 2005 | 19–1 | 1st |
| 2006 | 19–1 | 1st |
| 2007 | 19–1 | 1st (co) |
| 2008 | 18–2 | 1st (co) |
| 2009 | 16–4 | 3rd |
| 2010 | 19–1 | 1st |
California-San Diego
Cook also served as the head assistant coach at the University of California-San Diego from 1983 to 1984, where he aided the Tritons to an NCAA Division III national championship in 1984 and a second-place national finish in 1983. Cook’s coaching credentials also include leading Francis Parker High School in San Diego to two California state championships. During his six-year coaching stint from 1981 to 1988, he had a .900 winning percentage with an overall record of 162–18, including a 90-match winning streak.Awards and honors
- 2008: AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year, Big 12 Coach of the Year, Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year, USA Volleyball All-Time Great Coach
- 2005: AVCA Coach of the Year, Big 12 Coach of the Year, AVCA Central Region Coach of the Year
- 2001: Big 12 Coach of the Year
- 2000: AVCA Coach of the Year, Central Region Coach of the Year
- 1997: Big TenBig Ten volleyballBig Ten volleyball represents the 12 women's teams that participate in the conference. Through 2009, Big Ten volleyball has earned a combined 17 NCAA final four appearances by 6 different teams. In 1987, Illinois became the first program to represent the Big Ten in the final four, and in 1999...
co-Coach of the Year (at Wisconsin)