Nebraska Head Coach John Cook’s Wife, Windey, Is A Former Volleyball Player At San Diego State

January 30, 2026

This article was last updated by Sangita Budhathoki on January 30, 2026

John Cook’s family is filled with athletes: his wife Wendy was a star volleyball player at San Diego State, his daughter Lauren excelled in volleyball at UCLA and Nebraska, and his son also pursued a career in sports.

The legendary coach of the Nebraska volleyball team announced his retirement after 25 seasons with the Cornhuskers on January 29, 2026.

He shared this news during a press conference and said:

I’ve been here for 25 years. That’s a long time to do something. It’s been a great run,I want to thank my family for their support, and I want to thank Bill Byrne and Terry Pettit for giving me the opportunity to be the Nebraska volleyball coach. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great coaches and staff over the years, and I’m forever grateful for how hard they worked and for how much they gave to Nebraska volleyball. 

During his tenure, Cook has won four national championships and more than 700 matches and has decided to step down.

His career record is an impressive 883-176, and he is one of the most successful coaches in Division I volleyball history.

John Cook and His Wife, Wendy, Are Proud Parents Of Two Children, Lauren and Taylor!

John Cook is married to , a former volleyball player at San Diego State.

Wendy played as a setter and was a pivotal part of the Aztecs’ rise to prominence in volleyball during the late 1970s.

She was inducted into the San Diego State Hall of Fame in 1999 and earned All-America honors twice.

Despite her impressive background, she stayed out of the spotlight, maintaining privacy.

They met while John was coaching at UC San Diego and Wendy was playing volleyball at San Diego State in the late 1970s.

The couple got married after dating for several years in 1981.

While concerning their children, the pair have two children: a daughter named Lauren and a son named Taylor, who was a high school football player.

Currently, Wendy and John live in Teton Valley, where they enjoy the outdoors and spending time with their family.

Their son, Taylor, lives with them, while their daughter, Lauren, lives nearby with her husband and daughter.

Like Father, Like Daughter, John’s Daughter, Lauren Followed In Her Father’s Footsteps!

Lauren is a former standout volleyball player who began her journey at Lincoln Pius X High School.

During her time there, she led her team to three straight Class-B state titles.

She was named first-team all-state in her last three seasons and was honored as an All-American by Volleyball Magazine.

She initially attended UCLA, where she made an immediate impact, earning the AVCA National Freshman of the Year award in 2009.

Lauren averaged 10.69 assists, 2.44 digs, 0.77 kills, and 0.40 blocks per set during her freshman year.

However, she decided to transfer back home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln due to academic reasons and a desire to be closer to her family.

At Nebraska, Lauren continued to excel, earning numerous accolades, including first-team All-Big Ten honors and Academic All-Big Ten recognition.

She was also a three-time Big Ten Setter of the Week and helped lead the Huskers to a successful season in 2012.

After graduating, Lauren chose not to pursue a professional volleyball career.

Instead, she has remained involved in the sport by co-hosting a podcast with her father called ““ on the YouTube account.

In this podcast, they discuss various topics related to volleyball; John expresses his coaching experience and personal stories.

Lauren is married to Jason West in 2018, and they have a daughter together.

On the other hand, , John Cook’s son, has mostly stayed out of the spotlight.

Unlike his sister Lauren, Taylor hasn’t pursued a career in sports at the same level.

He was a high school football player, but there isn’t much public information about his current activities or career.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Born on April 19, 1956, John Cook is a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year.
• He has led his teams to four NCAA Division I Championships (2000, 2006, 2015, 2017) and secured 15 conference titles (9 Big 12, 6 Big Ten).
• He has achieved an overall record of 883-176, boasting a winning percentage of .834 over his career.

• Check other Articles on

Sangita is a passionate blogger with a keen eye for covering recent and trending news, particularly in the world of sports. Her love for travel and nature fuels her writing, adding a vibrant and refreshing perspective to her work. When she's not chasing the latest headlines, Sangita can be found exploring new destinations, capturing the beauty of nature, and sharing her adventures with her audience. Her unique blend of interests and expertise makes her blog a go-to source for both news enthusiasts and fellow travelers.

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