Banwarth Named New Husker Assistant Coach
LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook has named former Husker libero Kayla Banwarth as the new assistant coach for the Huskers. Banwarth replaces another former Husker, Dani Busboom Kelly, who was named the head coach at Louisville in November.
“Whenever I have a chance to hire a former player to coach at Nebraska volleyball, it’s something I strongly consider because they understand what this program is about,” Cook said. “Kayla’s strengths are her journey to Nebraska as a walk-on, having a great career at Nebraska and going on to beat out all the other liberos in the United States to become one of the top liberos in the world. I know Kayla has limited coaching experience at the collegiate level, but her strengths will allow her to develop quickly and take over Dani’s role in recruiting and coaching our liberos and passers.”
Banwarth, 27, is relatively new to the coaching profession after finishing an illustrious playing career with the U.S. National Team at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. A U.S. National Team libero since 2011, Banwarth also spent the last two years as a volunteer assistant coach for the Pepperdine men’s volleyball team. She will write the next chapter of her career back at Nebraska, where she concluded a decorated playing career in 2010.
“I am extremely honored to rejoin the Nebraska volleyball program as a coach,” Banwarth said. “I want to thank Coach Cook and the rest of the staff for this opportunity. I look forward to learning and growing both as a coach and a person. It’s great to be back in Lincoln.”
