Dream like a Champion with John Cook
There is football in Texas, basketball in Indiana — and volleyball in Nebraska.
On August 30, 2023, 92,003 fans packed Memorial Stadium — Nebraska's football stadium — to watch a women's volleyball match, breaking the international women's sports attendance record. The coach on the sideline that night was John Cook.
In 25 seasons at Nebraska, he led the Cornhuskers to four national championships and fifteen conference titles. His career record of 883–176 makes him one of the five winningest coaches in NCAA history. He is a three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, an AVCA Hall of Famer, the author of Dream Like a Champion, and by most measures, the greatest volleyball coach who ever lived.
He is also this year's Forum keynote speaker.
This is more than a conversation about volleyball.
It is a conversation about building something that lasts.
John will share the philosophy that drove four decades of championship-level performance. You will hear about the Attitude of Gratitude. You will hear about Dare to Be Great. You will hear about Change the Feeling . And so much more.
You'll also leave knowing why 92,003 people showed up to watch volleyball in a football stadium — and what it took to make that happen.
AVCA Hall of Fame · Three-Time AVCA National Coach of the Year
Author, Dream Like a Champion
John Cook's keynote takes place on Wednesday, May 20th at the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, following the Leadership and Insurance panels. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast available. You do not need to be a Markel Group shareholder to attend — but you do need to be registered.
Date · Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time · 11:15 a.m. - Noon.
Location · Modlin Center for the Arts, University of Richmond
Doors for the Forum open at 7:30 a.m. · Breakfast provided · Registration required