John Cook (coach)
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John Cook (born 1956) is currently the head coach for the University of Nebraska women's volleyball team (2000-present). He led the team to two NCAA titles in 2000, when they beat the University of Wisconsin and in 2006, when they defeated Stanford. Through the 2007 season, he has a 250-16 record at Nebraska.
He 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, 16, and Taylor, 13.
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[edit] NCAA Titles
In Cook's first season, the Huskers won their 2nd NCAA title by defeating Wisconsin 3 sets to 2 in 2000. They went undefeated in that season, only the second team in NCAA history to do so at the time. Oddly, Cook was the associate head coach at Wisconsin in the 1999 season. They were led by the AVCA Player of the Year Greichaly Cepero.
In 2005, they reached the National Championship match, but fell 3-0 to the University of Washington, who won their first NCAA title. The match was held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
See Also: 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament
In 2006, the Huskers won their third NCAA title by defeating Stanford, 3 sets to 1, at Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The 17,209 championship match attendance was the highest watched in NCAA history. They were led by the championship's MVP and AVCA National Player of the Year, Sarah Pavan. They became the first school since 1991 to win a national championship as the host institution (UCLA won at Pauley Pavilion in 1991)
Cook was named the 2000 and 2005 AVCA Coach of the Year, and also in 2005, Christina Houghtelling was named AVCA Player of the Year.
[edit] NCAA Results
| Year | Record | NCAA Finish (Seed) | Lost to (opp. seed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 34-0 | National Champions (1) | Def. Wisconsin (1) |
| 2001 | 31-2 | National Semifinal (2) | Stanford (3) |
| 2002 | 31-2 | Regional Final (3) | Hawai'i (6) |
| 2003 | 28-5 | Regional Semifinal (9) | UCLA (8) |
| 2004 | 30-2 | Regional Final (1) | USC (8) |
| 2005 | 33-2 | National Runner-Up (1) | Washington (3) |
| 2006 | 33-1 | National Champions (1) | Def. Stanford (2) |
| 2007 | 30-2 | Regional Final (2) | Cal (10) |
[edit] Big 12 Results
Under Cook, Nebraska has won every Big 12 title outright since 2000, except 2003 when they came in second, and in 2007 when they shared the title with Texas.
| 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) |
[edit] 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.
[edit] Awards and Honors
- 2005: AVCA Coach of the Year, Big 12 Coach of the Year, 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 Ten co-Coach of the Year (at Wisconsin)
