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Nebraska Volleyball Coach John Cook inspires students to “dream big” during a visit to Boys Town’s Wegner School May 1.
Click here to view photos from Cook’s visit and the 41st Sports Booster Banquet.
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John Cook Inspires Boys Town Students to “Dream Big”
John Cook, Head Coach of the National Champion Nebraska Volleyball team, inspired Boys Town youth to work hard and to always “dream big” as part of the 41st Sports Booster Banquet May 1.
“It doesn’t matter what the odds are,” said Coach Cook, the banquet’s keynote speaker, to students at Boys Town’s Wegner School. “If you choose to dream big, you will have opportunities. Do the best that you can and go for it. If you never take risks, you will never realize how great you are.”
The ideology of “dreaming big” is making its way across the state of Nebraska after the success of the Nebraska Women’s Volleyball team, influencing high school and collegiate athletes alike. Cook shared a story with the students about a young woman on his 2006 National Championship team who began the season unmotivated and didn’t work hard for the team. It was when she began to believe in herself, thanks to the help of her coach and teammates, that she began to dream big, eventually leading the Huskers to their third National Championship. Cook encouraged the students to be confident have faith in themselves.
Students were eager to ask the successful coach many questions, including what he liked most about coaching and how fast the volleyball went (62 mph). Cook mentioned several times how welcome he felt at Boys Town and how great the kids were.
It was this warm reception that greeted Cook when he arrived at the Booster Banquet. Before a crowd of 1,200 at Omaha’s Holiday Inn Convention Center, Cook spoke about the correlation between coaching and Boys Town.
“As a coach, you have a tremendous passion and want to help people,” began Cook. “The Family-Teachers at Boys Town are extremely passionate and they love doing what they do and influencing the kids in their home. They know what it means to give and they are passing that on to Boys Town youth.
Dreaming big begins with a vision, much like Father Flanagan had when he started Boys Town,” said Cook. “He decided to give back and he did all he could to help boys. The students I have had the honor of meeting have this same philosophy of ‘we, not I’ and of working towards something bigger than themselves.”
Tributes throughout the evening focused on the commitment and passion of Boys Town student athletes, with two athletes from each of Boys Town’s 11 sports recognized for dedication and outstanding work.
Chris Leak, honored for his sportsmanship shown during the Nebraska Wrestling state meet, was named the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year and gave a moving speech of thanks to the Boosters and his coaches. “The Boosters make sports at Boys Town a reality,” said Leak. “Because of the money they raise and my coaches pushing me to always do better, I have had many opportunities at Boys Town. I am a better person because of what they’ve given me.”
Boys Town alumni were also recognized with induction into the Boys Town Hall of Fame. Jarrod “Jake” Williams, ’49, Larry Kennedy, ’38, James Cook, ’55, and Nick Loncaric, ’40, were honored for their athletic achievements during their time at Boys Town. Williams, Kennedy and Loncaric were inducted posthumously.
An evening dedicated to Boys Town athletes past and present celebrated the Boys Town ideals of helping children and giving them the confidence to dream big.
“Life is about the journey,” said Cook. “Trust in your coaches because they don’t coach to win, they coach because what’s most important is teaching, mentoring and getting people to do things they don’t think they can do. Boys Town is helping these students realize their talents and skills and to share them with the rest of the community.”
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