In Focus: Cook Remains 'Extremely Motivated' After First Season
December 17, 2015 | General, Volleyball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Several days after Washington's volleyball season ended in the Elite Eight, coach Keegan Cook was back in his office.
The Huskies' run had come to a close, but the coach had yet to spend much time reflecting on his first year at the helm. One thing was certain, after this season, something felt different.
The coach sat at his desk feeling, “extremely motivated.”
It was a feeling different from each of the previous two years. After the Huskies' loss in the Final Four in Seattle two years ago and a run that ended in the Sweet 16 last year, there was a sense of, “pain.”
“I do know there's a little more of a feeling of being at peace this season than the last two,” Cook said. “The last two years were tough. The last two years, when the season ended it's been don't look at my computer and don't come into the office for two weeks. I just shut down.”
This year, though, there was a sense of completion. A season that began with uncertainty – a coaching change – ended with six seniors leaving everything on the court.
“There's certainly a sense of peace in knowing that, for those six seniors, they had another great year like they wanted and that's probably the biggest thing,” Cook said. “I couldn't be more proud of who those players are and people started to see what they're about.
“There weren't any questions of whether we left something in the tank or didn't play to our potential. The seniors all played tremendously well in their last match.”
Those six seniors were a big reason Cook decided to apply to become the program's head coach after Jim McLaughlin left for Notre Dame. Lianna Sybeldon, Melanie Wade, Cassie Strickland, Katy Beals, Kim Condie and Justice Magraw formed the core of a true team.
With Wade setting the standard through her leadership, the Huskies squeezed the most out of their potential all season.
“There was always something right about staying with those kids, those six seniors and the other kids I had gotten to know,” Cook said. “That's why it's so gratifying, why I feel so thankful. All those kids had a great year, every single one of them got better. Every single kid had career highs.”
The Huskies found success by simply living in the moment. Cook hasn't taken the time to reflect yet, because he spent so much time focused on the next practice and each upcoming match.
He is still caught up in the wave of emotion provided by a team that “went for it.”
As Washington turns the page toward a spring season in the sand and the next chapter on the court, Cook doesn't want to talk about replacing six seniors. He wants to celebrate the contributions of those players, while working to start writing the stories of the athletes who are returning.
“People are always reflecting on what you lost,” Cook said. “People forget there are some other people here who have some stories to tell, goals and dreams. If you spend a little more time getting to know those people, you wouldn't be so nervous.”
One of the most gratifying aspects of coaching at the college level is development.
“It's not an easy process, but it's amazing watching people become who they want to be,” Cook said. “We've got a lot of work to do again, but this time the fear of the unknown isn't going to be nearly as present as it was before.”
Over the course of four years, athletes endear themselves to the coaches they work with. As time moves on Cook will be, “kicking and screaming” as he lets go of this class, because “you kind of start to like them,” he said with a smile.
But, this group has told its story. The seniors tallied 117 victories to become the most successful class in program history.
Now it is time for a new group with a new story yet to be written.
“It's pretty cool,” Cook said. “I'm looking forward to seeing what's next. We're just going to get to work.”
