NCAA | Washington, Nebraska coaches almost came to blows last time they met

A 2010 confrontation between Washington’s Jim McLaughlin and Nebraska’s John Cook set the sports world buzzing. On the eve of a rematch, McLaughlin expresses regret.

by Jack Hamann, Volleyblog Seattle

Special to the Seattle Times

Assistant coaches step between Nebraska's John Cook and
Washington's Jim McLaughlin on December 10, 2010 in Seattle
-Omaha World-Herald photo by Matt Miller

They should, you would think, be two mellow dudes.

Nebraska coach John Cook grew up playing volleyball on San Diego beaches. Up the coast in Santa Monica, future Washington coach Jim McLaughlin was rippin’ waves and setting quicks.

Both married athletes. As acclaimed coaches, both won multiple championships. Neither has ever been terribly comfortable in the spotlight.

But on December 10, 2010, the two former beach boys kicked sand in the face of the volleyball world by doing something totally gnarly.

They nearly came to blows.

Read the rest of the story in the December 5, 2012 Sports section of The Seattle Times, in print or online. Feel free to comment on both the Seattle Times site and/or on Volleyblog Seattle.