By RUSS BROWN • Photos Provided By UofL Athletics
Good things come to those who wait. Dan Meske could be the poster boy for that idiom.
After exhibiting patience and loyalty for nearly a decade while helping Dani Busboom Kelly build one of the premier college volleyball programs in the country at the University of Louisville, Meske’s wait has finally paid off and now he’s in charge of keeping the program at its current level or beyond.
When Busboom Kelly was hired last month as the head coach at volleyball powerhouse Nebraska, her alma mater, Meske was promoted from his associate head coaching position almost immediately, ending the uncertainty he had lived with about if or when he might be able to ascend to the top.
Although Busboom Kelly repeatedly said she was happy in Louisville and had no desire to take another job, it was commonly believed that she would leave for Nebraska once legendary coach John Cook retired. Her roots are deep in the state. Not only did she play and coach for the Cornhuskers, but she grew up on a farm just outside Lincoln and her parents still live there.
Less than 48 hours after the Cornhuskers announced Busboom Kelly’s hiring, UofL named Meske to succeed her, although Meske said UofL athletic director Josh Heird told him in a phone call 10 minutes after learning Busboom Kelly was leaving, that he was “99.9 percent” sure Meske was going to be hired.
“One of the things that kept me here for so long is that I thought there was a small possibility that this could happen,” Meske said. “It didn’t really surprise me when the opportunity arose that she would jump on it, but I was good if nothing changed. We had a great thing going. I had some opportunities, but I never stepped foot on another campus other than for a match. So, I didn’t get too far down the road with anybody because from my perspective nothing really compared to Louisville. The support we have, the fan base is growing. It’s just such a cool moment to be a part of that we were never close to leaving.” Busboom Kelly says she enthusiastically supported Meske as her replacement.
“There is no one in the country better than Dan to lead Louisville volleyball,” she said. “Not only is he an amazing coach, but he is an incredible person who leads with integrity, passion and love for the players. While I’m sad I won’t be on the same sideline with Dan anymore, I want Louisville volleyball to continue to break barriers. Dan will work tirelessly to make sure the program succeeds.” The 40-year-old Chicago native’s promotion also figures to be a popular one with his players, according to All-American Anna DeBeer, who has graduated after four seasons as the Cards’ star.
“Dan is one of the hardest-working coaches I’ve ever had and is always finding ways to improve himself every day,” DeBeer said. “We would not have accomplished what we did these past few years without him. There is no one I trust more to take over this amazing program and continue the legacy Louisville volleyball is building.”
Meske said at his introductory press conference that he is incredibly proud and humbled to be UofL’s head coach, adding that his eight seasons in the ‘Ville “ have been the best of my life. . .This place means the world to me. Anyone who follows our program knows that there is a joy and love for each other and for the game within Louisville, and I plan to keep it that way.”
Meske has his work cut out for him. Busboom Kelly’s eight-year reign at UofL produced two national runner-up finishes, three national semifinals appearances, four ACC championships and an unprecedented undefeated 2021 regular season.
“Throughout his tenure, Dan has had several opportunities to leave U of L for head coaching roles, but he has stayed committed to making U of L one of the elite programs in the country,” Heird said. “He’s been loyal to this place, and I am supremely confident in his ability to lead this program into the future. Dan is a proven leader, teacher and program builder who will keep us on a national championship trajectory. He knows this program. He’s been here every step of the way since Dani started.”
Meske said he welcomes the challenge and feels he has an excellent nucleus for next season. The Cards return 11 players from the Final Four squad that posted a 30-6 record, including redshirt senior setter Elle Glock and middle blocker Cara Cresse, both redshirt seniors; junior opposite hitter Reese Robins; redshirt middle blocker Hannah Sherman; and sophomore setter Nayelis Cabello, the returning leader in digs with 210.
“The coaching lingo is that pressure is a privilege,” Meske said. “Clearly, we have a great roster. We worked really hard to get this roster to where it’s at with the players we have coming back and the (recruiting) commitments we have. So, we really haven’t skipped a beat. Anytime I think about pressure I go back to what a great opportunity this is. Every once in a while my mind goes there (to pressure) because it’s just human nature. But I’m always reminded that we’ve worked so hard to have that pressure and opportunity that it’s a pretty cool moment to be in.”
Meske’s five-year contract through Dec. 31, 2029, includes a base salary of $300,000 and a monthly car allowance of $500. His performance bonuses, which include seven accomplishments such as a Final Four appearance, national championship and ACC Coach of the Year, amount to $125,000. Should the Cards appear in the NCAA Tournament in any of his first three years, he will receive an automatic one-year extension.
Prior to joining Busboom Kelly’s staff, Meske was the head coach at Division II Augustana College in Rockford, Ill. for two seasons after eight years as an assistant coach at Nebraska. He and his wife Laurel have three sons: Ryne, Maddox and Hendricks.
Heird praised Busboom Kelly while calling her departure “bittersweet.”
“Dani doesn’t owe the university, the city a thing,” he said. “You think about what she did to elevate this program, and, I mean, honestly, I’m going to be cheering her on. I’m a Nebraska volleyball fan now. Because I truly want her to win national championships there and just continue to rise in the sport.”
Busboom Kelly played at Nebraska from 2003-06, winning a national championship her senior season as a libero. She also served as an assistant coach from 2012-16 -- which included a national title in 2015 -- before taking the Louisville job in 2017.
She signed a six-year contract extension in 2022 that boosted her base salary from $225,000 to $400,000. Her contract included a provision waiving a $300,000 buyout if she became the head coach at Nebraska, where she signed a six-year, $4,575 million deal, plus bonuses. Her starting base pay will be $700,000, increasing $25,000 each season. That places her second in the NCAA in base salary behind Texas coach Jerritt Elliot, who was paid $724,750 for winning the national championship in 2023 (500,000).