Nebraska legend John Cook named co-owner, general manager of Omaha Supernovas
John Cook might have retired as Nebraska volleyball’s head coach, but he’s not ready to move on from volleyball. The four-time national championship coach is a co-owner and general manager of the Omaha Supernovas.
The Supernovas announced Cook’s new role on Tuesday, Aug. 6, ahead of its inaugural season in Major League Volleyball (MLV) in 2026. Omaha played two seasons in the Professional Volleyball Federation (PVF) before the league emerged into MLV.
“After more than 30 years of coaching, I knew I wanted the next chapter to be just as impactful and becoming the General Manager of the Omaha Supernovas is exactly that opportunity,” Cook said in a statement. “I’ve spent my career helping grow the game at the college level, and now I have the chance to take that knowledge and apply it in a new way, with the world’s leading professional volleyball franchise.
“The energy around our sport has never been higher, and the Supernovas are at the forefront of that momentum. There’s no better place than Nebraska, and no better organization than the Supernovas, to help take this sport to the next level.”
The Husker head coach of 25 seasons has been at the forefront of advancing college volleyball and volleyball in the U.S. What Nebraska volleyball has done inspired professional volleyball programs, including PVF, MLV, and League One (LOVB).
Just like the Huskers, the Supernovas are leading the country in attendance at their level. The Novas averaged 10,935 fans per home match in 2025. They have broke and re-broken the U.S. women’s professional volleyball attendance record. Right now, the record stands at 13,486.
A wealth of knowledge
During his 25 seasons leading Nebraska, Cook won 15 conference titles, advanced to 12 Final Fours, eight national title matches and won four national titles. He produced 72 AVCA All-Americans and some of the greatest college and professional volleyball players in the U.S. Cook was a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year. He was a four-time Big 12 Coach of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year.
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Cook was ready to hand the reins to former Husker player and assistant coach Dani Busboom Kelly. But clearly wants to still be a part of growing the sport of volleyball.
Omaha Team President Diane Mendenhall was Cook’s first-ever Director of Operations in 2000. The duo will work closely together again.
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“I’ve always cherished my relationship with Coach Cook, and it’s incredibly special to be reuniting with him,” Mendenhall said in a statement. “It’s a full-circle moment, as he was the one who brought me to Nebraska when he took over the volleyball program in 2000. I was there with him from the beginning and saw firsthand how he built it into the national powerhouse we see today.
“Being part of that foundation shaped how we approached building the Supernovas, and we leaned on that same blueprint at the pro level. His vision, experience, and winning mentality are unmatched, and I’m thrilled to be working alongside Coach Cook again as he helps elevate Major League Volleyball to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most elite professional sports leagues.”
The Supernovas announced interim head coach Laura “Bird” Kuhn will not return for the 2026 season. U.S. Olympic Volleyball Gold Medalist Luka Slabe was named the franchise’s second head coach later on Tuesday.
