Penn State women’s volleyball coach to be honored at the 2025 ESPYS
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- Katie Schumacher-Cawley will receive the Jimmy V Award at the 2025 ESPYS.
- She coached Penn State to a title while undergoing breast cancer treatment.
- Schumacher-Cawley signed a contract extension through 2030 in February 2025.
Penn State’s national championship winning head coach will add to her trophy cabinet this July.
Katie Schumacher-Cawley will receive the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance during the 2025 ESPYS after leading the Nittany Lions to a national title last fall while undergoing cancer treatment. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in September 2024, and announced she concluded chemotherapy treatment in February.
The award, named after former North Carolina basketball coach and ESPN commentator Jim Valvano, is given to “a deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through physical perseverance and determination.”
“Her perseverance was a source of motivation for the Nittany Lions, who rallied behind their coach during this challenging time,” an ESPN release read. “Her journey has been an inspiration, exemplifying the power of perseverance and hope in overcoming personal and professional challenges.”
Schumacher-Cawley became the first female head coach to win a D1 volleyball national championship, leading Penn State to a 35-2 record in her third season as the program’s head coach. In February, she signed a contract extension to remain the team’s coach through 2030.
The ESPYS will take place at 8 p.m. EST on July 16 from Los Angeles. It will be broadcast on ABC and is available to stream on ESPN+.
This story was originally published June 30, 2025 at 2:24 PM.
