Keegan Cook was announced as Hugh McCutcheon's replacement to coach Gophers volleyball last Dec. 12. The credentials were indisputable with Cook's success in putting together a winning program at Washington.
This is a tremendous sport where a couple of key players can change the fortunes — and also seems one where the inside forces, i.e., parents, can be stronger in pushing college decisions than outside forces, such as club team coaches.
Throw in the ease of movement with today's transfer portal, and the situation for a coach, new or long time, can change in a hurry.
McCutcheon's early announcement that he would be quitting as Gophers coach after the 2022 season was intended to be honorable toward players, recruits and their families, but the question didn't really change in the volleyball world:
"What's that all about?"
Cook was up against it from the start.
On Dec. 26, Carter Booth, the magnificent 6-7 middle blocker, with three years remaining, was announced as transferring to Wisconsin.
On Jan. 12, invaluable outside hitter Jenna Wenaas was announced as transferring to Texas.
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