Former Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit (left) congratulates head coach John Cook for winning the NCAA Championship in Richmond, Virginia, in 2000. Pettit will be going into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame.
Journal Star file photo
Terry Pettit (right) talks with Lisa Reitsma during a 1995 match. Pettit will be inducted into the 2020 Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame class.
Terry Pettit, who grew the Nebraska volleyball program into a national powerhouse, will be inducted into the 2020 Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame class.
Five former Husker athletes will be inducted, as well, and those names will be announced over the next three weeks, the Nebraska Athletic Department announced.
Pettit received the news from current NU volleyball coach John Cook on Tuesday via a social media chat.
Coach Cook facetiming Coach Pettit? 🤔
...wait for it
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers)
"It's always good to be recognized by the institution that you spent your professional life with," Pettit said. "That's wonderful."
Pettit not only built a perennial power, but a state phenomenon. Volleyball became one of the most popular sports within the state borders.
Pettit was named NU's volleyball coach in 1977, and what followed was one of Nebraska's biggest success stories. He posted a 694-148-12 record in 23 seasons and guided the Huskers to 21 conference championships, six NCAA semifinal appearances and a national championship in 1995.
He also laid the groundwork for the Huskers' 2000 national title run. Cook guided that team to a 34-0 mark and the roster included several players Pettit recruited and coached before stepping down in 1999.
Pettit was the AVCA Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1994, and a nine-time conference coach of the year.
He's the fourth coach to be inducted into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame, joining football coaches Tom Osborne and Bob Devaney, and men's gymnastics coach Francis Allen.
Former Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit (left) congratulates head coach John Cook for winning the NCAA Championship in Richmond, Virginia, in 2000. Pettit will be going into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame.