Katie Schumacher-Cawley
Courtesy of Katie Schumacher-Cawley/InstagramPenn State women’s volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley made history Sunday night, three months after being diagnosed with stage II breast cancer.
Schumacher-Cawley, 44, became the first female coach to win a national championship since the NCAA tournament began in 1981, when her Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the University of Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, December 22.
“There were so many that came before me that paved the way for me,” Schumacher-Cawley told ESPN after the win, Penn State’s first national champion in history. “I am very grateful and I hope that there will be others who want to train and be a part of it in the future.”
After leaving the courtroom, Schumacher-Cawley spoke of the overwhelming support of her Penn State family during her battle with cancer.
Many celebrities have spoken about their personal battles with breast cancer over the years. Julia Louis-Dreyfus went public with her breast cancer diagnosis in September 2017 via Instagram. About one year later, she had recovered from her illness and returned to work on Veep. “It sounds corny, but there’s something about this […]
“I am lucky to be surrounded by many great people from this team to the staff I have,” Schumacher-Cawley told the media. “I’m really lucky to have great people around me who go above and beyond.”
Schumacher-Cawley also gave a nod to the young cancer patients, who she often crosses paths with on her travels.
“I’m motivated by sick little kids,” he added. “I was treated at UPenn and every time I go into the hospital, I go through the children’s hospital. Of course, if I can be an inspiration to someone. then I take that. But I feel good and lucky to have people around me. I think that’s why we won.”
Schumacher-Cawley, a former Penn State volleyball player who took over as coach in January 2022, announced she had been diagnosed with cancer in October.
Courtesy of Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman has an impressive team off the field, too. Freeman, 38, who became the head football coach at Notre Dame in December 2021, married his wife, Joanna Freeman, in 2010. The couple met during their time at Ohio State University, where Marcus was a student. […]
“This news has been a lot to process, and as you can imagine, it has brought mixed feelings,” he shared on Instagram. “But I face this with strength, determination, and an unwavering sense of hope. We will find inspiration from the many people in our lives who have battled cancer and won.”
He continued, “I know that this journey will have its challenges, but I also know that with the care and strength of those around me, I am ready to face it head on.” I also take a moment to acknowledge and thank the women and men who have gone through this before me. The strength, courage, and determination you have shown has not only been an inspiration, but has also helped drive the incredible progress we see in medicine today. Your journey has paved the way for better treatments and outcomes, and I am so grateful for that.”
Schumacher-Cawley only missed a few practices while he assessed his diagnosis and his on-court commitments – which did not go unnoticed by his players.
“Even if he’s not feeling well, you can’t say that,” driver Jess Mruzik told the newspaper. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a story published Thursday, December 19. “He’s always human and always happy.”