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Meet Penn State's Katie Schumacher-Cawley: Everything to know about the volleyball head coach currently battling cancer who will feature in NCAA final
Katie Schumacher-Cawley is the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who have proven to be a dominant force this year. She has been in her current role since 2022, and stands a chance to become the first woman to lead a team to an NCAA Women's Volleyball Division I national championship.
The Nittany Lions are currently gearing up for their first final since 2017, where they will take on the Louisville Cardinals. The team downed the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their semifinals encounter after a thrilling game that went the full distance, and they'll be gunning for gold in the summit clash scheduled for Sunday, December 2022.
As the Lions prepare for their final, here is everything you need to know about their head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley's family and hometown
Schumacher-Cawley was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and she grew up in Morgan Park. She is married to Mike Cawley, a football player and a sixth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1996 NFL Draft. The couple share three daughters together, Stella, Nora and Shea.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley's battle with cancer
Schumacher-Cawley was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, but she has continued to work with the Nittany Lions. She first made the news of her diagnosis public in October, writing on Instagram,
“This news has been a lot to process, and as you can imagine, it has brought a range of emotions. But I'm approaching this with strength, determination, and an unwavering sense of hope. We will draw inspiration from the many people in our lives that have battled cancer and have emerged victorious. I know this journey will have its challenges, but I also know that with the care and strength of those around me, I am ready to meet it head-on.”
In a separate interview with ESPN, she explained that she felt ‘normal’ at the Rec Hall, the home court of Lions, saying,
“In September I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, I went through a series of biopsies and tests, with different doctors. I feel normal here at Rec Hall and I just want to keep going. I feel so loved and I'm so lucky to have the staff I have.”
Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s playing career
In Chicago, Schumacher-Cawley attended the Mother McAuley High School, where she played both volleyball and basketball. She excelled at the former, leading her team to state championships in 1994 and 1995 and a runner up finish in 1996.
Her achievements with the school saw named to the McAuley’s hall of fame in 2014. The 44-year-old’s playing career also saw her earn a spot in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) Hall of Fame, the Catholic League Hall of Fame, and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
For her collegiate career, Schumacher-Cawley focused on volleyball and played for the Penn State Nittany Lions. In 1999, she led the team to a championship victory, the program’s first national title.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley's coaching career
Schumacher-Cawley began her coaching journey in 2003, as an assistant coach for UIC. She was later promoted to head coach in 2009, a position she held for the next eight years. In her time with UIC, she recorded 113 wins, making her the program's third most successful coach. She also led the team to the Horizon League Finals in 2012.
In 2017, Schumacher-Cawley was named the head coach of PSU, but stepped down to assistant coach between 2018 and 2021. She regained the title of head coach in 2022, and the Nittany Lions have been getting better every season.
In 2022 and 2023, the 44-year-old led her team to semifinal appearances in the NCAA championships. Her first two years with the team saw her players earn two All-America honors, five all-region accolades and six All-Big Ten awards, including five first-team selections.
Now, Katie Schumacher-Cawley has led the Nittany Lions to their first championship finals since 2017, and stands a chance to become the first woman to coach a team to the NCAA Division I volleyball trophy
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