August 8, 2025 • 11 mins
Omaha Supernovas President Talks Big Moves & Changes
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The almost Supernovas, of course a couple of years in
(00:03):
Pro Volleyball Federation, and during the season this year there
was announcement that they would be moving or starting a
league called Major League Volleyball. We didn't know until a
few days ago that this league essentially was going to
replace Pro Volleyball Federation. Is that the brands merged before
even a third league really got off the ground. And
(00:24):
then a ton of news, including the institution of John
Cook he is now co owner and general manager of
the team, and several player signings. An amazing few days
of news if you follow the Supernovas and joining us
on the line as their president, Diane Mendenhall and Dianne
thank you so much for giving us some time and
what has to be probably the wildest week in Supernova's history.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I think it's allows week in Supernova history, and I
think it's allowdest week and probably professional volleyball in the
history of the United States.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So all good, though, Yeah, let's go ahead. Can you
give me some details into the Major League Volleyball thing,
because it was announced like at the beginning, I think
of the season last year as Pro Volleyball Federation, like
there's going to be this new league and it was
going to be kind of led by the leadership group
of the Supernovas, and people I don't think understood what
(01:15):
that meant. Was this going to be a third professional league?
Now would there be any teams for them to play?
And I think a lot of people were like, Oh, actually,
this is just kind of a revamped Pro Volleyball Federation.
So can you take me through what this process was
like and why this adjustment was made.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Basically, our owners from the get go with the launch
were under had the mission to elevate the level of
volleyball from where we were within the PVF, and so
that everyone brought the standards to what we were experiencing
in Omaha. And so that was the mission and the
purpose of the MLV. Unfortunately too as well as those
(01:53):
other teams joining us in the PVF, and decided, you
know what, we're all going to make that commitment together.
And then we brought on a couple additional teams too,
with Northern California primarily based out of Sacramento, and then
DC will also be joining in twenty seven and then
there may be news on the future too as far
as other teams so we'll have ten teams this year.
(02:14):
Dallas is also jumping in and so eight teams this
year and then ten teams in twenty twenty seven. So
all set up really with the structure similar to the
NBA too, where everything is elevated. Every team has a
seat at the table for the board and we'll experience
great things at all the venues.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
It's exactly what we were looking for, right because it
was clear that the Supernovas were the model franchise in attendance,
in their presentation, and it just is so fun to
go to the games. I mean, work got around town
very quickly about how awesome going to Supernova's games were,
and it's really awesome that we know that that's going
to continue. And that leads me to the next day
(02:57):
when the news came out that John Cook, the ledgen
coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, freshly retired after one of
the great coaching careers of any sport at the collegiate
level of all time, and now he's co owner and
general manager and with competing volleyball leagues also you know,
trying to take you know, kind of some momentum here
in the US. This has to be a huge get
(03:18):
for the Supernovas and for Major League Volleyball. Can you
explain how that all came about?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You know, John and I go way back as far
as you know. He's the one that brought me to Nebraska,
and you know when he took over the Reins as
the head coach in two thousand and when he was
our match in March, when we honored him on a retirement.
From that day on, we started conversations and he just
he's a fall in love with pro volleyball and so
(03:45):
it went everywhere, everything from coaching to eventually settled on
a GM position, and he's just excited to take, you know,
to take the sport to a whole nother level. If
you look at what he did at the collegiate level,
and then now that we can harness that vision and
that enthusiasm towards the pro level, the sky's the limits.
(04:05):
So you know, it feels a little bit of that
he'll have leaving that coaching rank. And if you could
see him right now in our war room. We're in
free agency right now, he's having the time of his
life and it's a marriage made in heaven.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, we're speaking with Diam Mindenhall is the president of
the Omaha Supernova. Is Major League Volleyball going to be born,
essentially as a new league, but with a lot of
familiar franchises and a lot of familiar faces. For one
reason or another that is getting put pen to paper
thanks to John cook in the leadership now that he
is helping bring to building this roster some Supernovas. It
(04:43):
was great to see Brook Dnaviller get signed today. Among
I think you guys have like nine signings that you've
officially announced, and it includes names that if you follow
the Huskers, that you'll know like Merrett Beeson, a name
like if you're Creighton fan. Nora Sis who was playing
for Orlando last year, she has been added to the
to the mix here. One of the cool things that
(05:05):
you guys have done in the three now about to
be three years that you've existed is you have some
of the legends of local collegiate volleyball playing for this franchise.
And how important was that to keep that going? Knowing
John Cooks in the mix now, but knowing that the
fans really already have this connection with these players.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It's so important we know how the fans, you know,
they fall in love with the Huskers, they fall in
love with the Blue Jays, and they really appreciate the
big ten play and what comes through. And so the
local talent is just imperative for the growth of the sports.
And we saw that last year as you mentioned, with
the Huskers, and that we brought on board as well
as the Blue Jays. You know, we have Alison Whitten
(05:43):
who's also coming back, who you know, played for Creighton
as well, and you know, if you stay tuned in
about forty five minutes, you're going to hear another one.
So kat out of the bag there. So it's critical
that we have that and we know that just look
at Nebraska and Create last year. You know, at one
time they're both ranked in the top five. We don't
(06:03):
have to look far for talent, and we are going
to miss that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, it's a great point. The quality is absolutely there,
and that's one of the reasons why volleyball has become
such a huge sport in Omaha, Lincoln and all of
Nebraska is because of the quality of these collegiate programs
leading the way nationally. So, Diane, one thing that did
change that, you know, I was interested to see what
would happen with John Cook in the mix. He wasn't
listed as the coach. He was the general manager. He's
(06:29):
going to put the team together. He's also a co owner.
Laura Bird Koon, who's been the coach for the last
couple of seasons, led the Supernovas to a title in
twenty twenty three or sorry in twenty twenty four. Here
in twenty twenty five was you know, one of the
best teams in the league and just came up short
of going back to back. But it was announced this
week that she actually will not be returning as the
(06:50):
head coach and there's going to be a new coach
on the sidelines there. So can you walk me through
kind of the coaching situation and trying to make sure
that that part is still stable even with a brand
new coach at the helm.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That's a great question with Bird two. We from the
minute we approached her on becoming our interim you know,
initially she says, you know, I've done with coaching. I
want to I want to work as far as at
the league level or a franchise level where I can
be an administration, and you know, talked her into coaching
and she said, you know, it wasn't that bad. But
with that said, she's worked behind the scenes with us
(07:24):
to bring candidates forwards that would be her her parent
actually and has brought full more than a handful. And
so we had the opportunity and what she sees as
an opportunity to and we as a franchise really want
to position her for that is with this league growth,
the league office is going to expand as well, and
(07:45):
this positions her to make that leap where she can
even have a bigger impact for the sport across the country.
And so decided to move in that direction, and we're
I'm excited to see the opportunity that she'll have at
a much higher level. You know, she's had great conversations
with her over the last couple of days and even
(08:06):
today during that free agency period, I know she's she's
been sending us pictures and working with a few players too.
So you know, as we said, you know, once a supernova,
always a supernova, and she our relationship with her will
always stay tight and will always stay cherished.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, that's awesome. I love to hear that. Let's quickly
talk before we run out of time here, Diane about
the new coach who's taking over the Superno Supernovas, and
it's a very familiar name if you follow international volleyball
at the highest level in the Olympics and beyond. Luca
Slabs the new head coach for the Supernovas. What got
(08:43):
you or him on your radar and him wanting to
take this job over.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Well, interestingly and having the discussions with Coach Cook. We
had a couple candidates that we had and even Bird
was involved in those conversations. And then Coach Cook said,
I said, you know what, we need a backup just
in case, you know, one of these don't come through
to fruition. And he said, I think, I think I've
got the best of the best. And we were just
(09:09):
over the moon excited when we approached Lucas and he
went to karts Karai and said, hey, do you think
I could make this work? And you know he's with
the USA men's national team and he will coach alongside
karch Karai into the Olympic Games in La. But what
they have with the national team is their their off
season is basically our season. So it's a it's a
(09:32):
perfect match and kartch Karai, you know who has led
the women to the gold medal with Luca at at
his side, gave him the green light, so we were
thrilled and you know, to bring someone in that won
an Olympic gold medal. The first you know coaching staff
to win a gold medal with the women in the
Olympics is you know, to have that caliber of talent
(09:55):
in the gym and players across the country, former players
and you know players that are coming in that we're
talking to right now are thrilled to be coached on
him because they'll take their game to kind at a
different level. And that's you know, the aspiration of all pros.
You know, this is this is you know, the pinnacle
of their careers and they want to play at the
(10:15):
highest level and they love the thought that the depth
of get to play for Luca.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Yeah, Lucas Slab the brand new coach, John Cook, brand
new general manager, but Diane Mendenhall still running the show
over there as the president of the Omaha Supernova's. Congrats
on the big week. This has been so excited. I
can't wait to get back on the floor and to
watch some of these games as we get into twenty
twenty six. Thank you so much for the time and
I'm sure we'll be chatting again soon.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Thanks Emory all that you do, and I appreciate the
support of KFA B as well.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Absolutely one hundred percent, absolutely love what they got going
on over there, and what a week it's been for
the Supernovas. Really cannot wait for the season to start.
It is three point fifty coming up with more on
news Radio eleven ten KFAB and.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Ray Songer on news Radio eleven ten KFAB one
The almost Supernovas, of course a couple of years in
(00:03):
Pro Volleyball Federation, and during the season this year there
was announcement that they would be moving or starting a
league called Major League Volleyball. We didn't know until a
few days ago that this league essentially was going to
replace Pro Volleyball Federation. Is that the brands merged before
even a third league really got off the ground. And
(00:24):
then a ton of news, including the institution of John
Cook he is now co owner and general manager of
the team, and several player signings. An amazing few days
of news if you follow the Supernovas and joining us
on the line as their president, Diane Mendenhall and Dianne
thank you so much for giving us some time and
what has to be probably the wildest week in Supernova's history.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I think it's allows week in Supernova history, and I
think it's allowdest week and probably professional volleyball in the
history of the United States.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So all good, though, Yeah, let's go ahead. Can you
give me some details into the Major League Volleyball thing,
because it was announced like at the beginning, I think
of the season last year as Pro Volleyball Federation, like
there's going to be this new league and it was
going to be kind of led by the leadership group
of the Supernovas, and people I don't think understood what
(01:15):
that meant. Was this going to be a third professional league?
Now would there be any teams for them to play?
And I think a lot of people were like, Oh, actually,
this is just kind of a revamped Pro Volleyball Federation.
So can you take me through what this process was
like and why this adjustment was made.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Basically, our owners from the get go with the launch
were under had the mission to elevate the level of
volleyball from where we were within the PVF, and so
that everyone brought the standards to what we were experiencing
in Omaha. And so that was the mission and the
purpose of the MLV. Unfortunately too as well as those
(01:53):
other teams joining us in the PVF, and decided, you
know what, we're all going to make that commitment together.
And then we brought on a couple additional teams too,
with Northern California primarily based out of Sacramento, and then
DC will also be joining in twenty seven and then
there may be news on the future too as far
as other teams so we'll have ten teams this year.
(02:14):
Dallas is also jumping in and so eight teams this
year and then ten teams in twenty twenty seven. So
all set up really with the structure similar to the
NBA too, where everything is elevated. Every team has a
seat at the table for the board and we'll experience
great things at all the venues.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
It's exactly what we were looking for, right because it
was clear that the Supernovas were the model franchise in attendance,
in their presentation, and it just is so fun to
go to the games. I mean, work got around town
very quickly about how awesome going to Supernova's games were,
and it's really awesome that we know that that's going
to continue. And that leads me to the next day
(02:57):
when the news came out that John Cook, the ledgen
coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, freshly retired after one of
the great coaching careers of any sport at the collegiate
level of all time, and now he's co owner and
general manager and with competing volleyball leagues also you know,
trying to take you know, kind of some momentum here
in the US. This has to be a huge get
(03:18):
for the Supernovas and for Major League Volleyball. Can you
explain how that all came about?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You know, John and I go way back as far
as you know. He's the one that brought me to Nebraska,
and you know when he took over the Reins as
the head coach in two thousand and when he was
our match in March, when we honored him on a retirement.
From that day on, we started conversations and he just
he's a fall in love with pro volleyball and so
(03:45):
it went everywhere, everything from coaching to eventually settled on
a GM position, and he's just excited to take, you know,
to take the sport to a whole nother level. If
you look at what he did at the collegiate level,
and then now that we can harness that vision and
that enthusiasm towards the pro level, the sky's the limits.
(04:05):
So you know, it feels a little bit of that
he'll have leaving that coaching rank. And if you could
see him right now in our war room. We're in
free agency right now, he's having the time of his
life and it's a marriage made in heaven.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, we're speaking with Diam Mindenhall is the president of
the Omaha Supernova. Is Major League Volleyball going to be born,
essentially as a new league, but with a lot of
familiar franchises and a lot of familiar faces. For one
reason or another that is getting put pen to paper
thanks to John cook in the leadership now that he
is helping bring to building this roster some Supernovas. It
(04:43):
was great to see Brook Dnaviller get signed today. Among
I think you guys have like nine signings that you've
officially announced, and it includes names that if you follow
the Huskers, that you'll know like Merrett Beeson, a name
like if you're Creighton fan. Nora Sis who was playing
for Orlando last year, she has been added to the
to the mix here. One of the cool things that
(05:05):
you guys have done in the three now about to
be three years that you've existed is you have some
of the legends of local collegiate volleyball playing for this franchise.
And how important was that to keep that going? Knowing
John Cooks in the mix now, but knowing that the
fans really already have this connection with these players.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It's so important we know how the fans, you know,
they fall in love with the Huskers, they fall in
love with the Blue Jays, and they really appreciate the
big ten play and what comes through. And so the
local talent is just imperative for the growth of the sports.
And we saw that last year as you mentioned, with
the Huskers, and that we brought on board as well
as the Blue Jays. You know, we have Alison Whitten
(05:43):
who's also coming back, who you know, played for Creighton
as well, and you know, if you stay tuned in
about forty five minutes, you're going to hear another one.
So kat out of the bag there. So it's critical
that we have that and we know that just look
at Nebraska and Create last year. You know, at one
time they're both ranked in the top five. We don't
(06:03):
have to look far for talent, and we are going
to miss that opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, it's a great point. The quality is absolutely there,
and that's one of the reasons why volleyball has become
such a huge sport in Omaha, Lincoln and all of
Nebraska is because of the quality of these collegiate programs
leading the way nationally. So, Diane, one thing that did
change that, you know, I was interested to see what
would happen with John Cook in the mix. He wasn't
listed as the coach. He was the general manager. He's
(06:29):
going to put the team together. He's also a co owner.
Laura Bird Koon, who's been the coach for the last
couple of seasons, led the Supernovas to a title in
twenty twenty three or sorry in twenty twenty four. Here
in twenty twenty five was you know, one of the
best teams in the league and just came up short
of going back to back. But it was announced this
week that she actually will not be returning as the
(06:50):
head coach and there's going to be a new coach
on the sidelines there. So can you walk me through
kind of the coaching situation and trying to make sure
that that part is still stable even with a brand
new coach at the helm.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That's a great question with Bird two. We from the
minute we approached her on becoming our interim you know,
initially she says, you know, I've done with coaching. I
want to I want to work as far as at
the league level or a franchise level where I can
be an administration, and you know, talked her into coaching
and she said, you know, it wasn't that bad. But
with that said, she's worked behind the scenes with us
(07:24):
to bring candidates forwards that would be her her parent
actually and has brought full more than a handful. And
so we had the opportunity and what she sees as
an opportunity to and we as a franchise really want
to position her for that is with this league growth,
the league office is going to expand as well, and
(07:45):
this positions her to make that leap where she can
even have a bigger impact for the sport across the country.
And so decided to move in that direction, and we're
I'm excited to see the opportunity that she'll have at
a much higher level. You know, she's had great conversations
with her over the last couple of days and even
(08:06):
today during that free agency period, I know she's she's
been sending us pictures and working with a few players too.
So you know, as we said, you know, once a supernova,
always a supernova, and she our relationship with her will
always stay tight and will always stay cherished.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, that's awesome. I love to hear that. Let's quickly
talk before we run out of time here, Diane about
the new coach who's taking over the Superno Supernovas, and
it's a very familiar name if you follow international volleyball
at the highest level in the Olympics and beyond. Luca
Slabs the new head coach for the Supernovas. What got
(08:43):
you or him on your radar and him wanting to
take this job over.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Well, interestingly and having the discussions with Coach Cook. We
had a couple candidates that we had and even Bird
was involved in those conversations. And then Coach Cook said,
I said, you know what, we need a backup just
in case, you know, one of these don't come through
to fruition. And he said, I think, I think I've
got the best of the best. And we were just
(09:09):
over the moon excited when we approached Lucas and he
went to karts Karai and said, hey, do you think
I could make this work? And you know he's with
the USA men's national team and he will coach alongside
karch Karai into the Olympic Games in La. But what
they have with the national team is their their off
season is basically our season. So it's a it's a
(09:32):
perfect match and kartch Karai, you know who has led
the women to the gold medal with Luca at at
his side, gave him the green light, so we were
thrilled and you know, to bring someone in that won
an Olympic gold medal. The first you know coaching staff
to win a gold medal with the women in the
Olympics is you know, to have that caliber of talent
(09:55):
in the gym and players across the country, former players
and you know players that are coming in that we're
talking to right now are thrilled to be coached on
him because they'll take their game to kind at a
different level. And that's you know, the aspiration of all pros.
You know, this is this is you know, the pinnacle
of their careers and they want to play at the
(10:15):
highest level and they love the thought that the depth
of get to play for Luca.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Yeah, Lucas Slab the brand new coach, John Cook, brand
new general manager, but Diane Mendenhall still running the show
over there as the president of the Omaha Supernova's. Congrats
on the big week. This has been so excited. I
can't wait to get back on the floor and to
watch some of these games as we get into twenty
twenty six. Thank you so much for the time and
I'm sure we'll be chatting again soon.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Thanks Emory all that you do, and I appreciate the
support of KFA B as well.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Absolutely one hundred percent, absolutely love what they got going
on over there, and what a week it's been for
the Supernovas. Really cannot wait for the season to start.
It is three point fifty coming up with more on
news Radio eleven ten KFAB and.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Ray Songer on news Radio eleven ten KFAB one
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