Katie Schumacher Cowley
Courtesy of Katie Schumacher Cowley/InstagramPenn State women's volleyball coach Katie Schumacher Cowley She made history Sunday night, three months after being diagnosed with stage 2 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, Dec. 22.
“There were many who came before me and paved the way for me,” Schumacher Cawley said He told ESPN After winning, Penn State's eighth national championship in history. “I am very grateful and I hope there will be more in the future who want to coach and be a part of it.”
After leaving court, Schumacher-Cawley spoke about the support her family in Pennsylvania gave her during her battle with cancer.
Many celebrities have spoken out about their personal battles with breast cancer over the years. Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced her breast cancer diagnosis in September 2017 via Instagram. About a year later, she overcame the disease and returned to work on Veep. “It sounds kind of corny, but there's something yet (…)
“I'm very lucky to be surrounded by so many great people, from this team to my coaching staff,” Schumacher-Cawley told reporters. “I'm really lucky to have great people around me who are doing their best.”
Schumacher also gave Cawley a nod to the younger cancer patients she routinely encounters in her own journey.
“I'm inspired by sick little kids,” she added. “I'm being treated at the University of Pennsylvania and every time I walk into the hospital, I walk right past Children's Hospital. Sure, if I can be an inspiration to someone. Then I take that. But I feel good and I'm lucky to have people around me. I think This is the reason for our success.”
Schumacher-Cawley, the former Penn State volleyball player who took over as head coach in January 2022, announced she had been diagnosed with cancer in October.
Courtesy of Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman has a great team off the field, too. Freeman, 38, who became Notre Dame's head football coach in December 2021, married his wife, Joanna Freeman, in 2010. The couple met during their time at Ohio State University, where Marcus[…]
“It's been a lot of work processing this news and, as you can imagine, it has brought a range of emotions,” she said. Via Instagram. “But I approach this with strength, determination and an unwavering sense of hope. We will be inspired by the many people in our lives who have battled cancer and emerged victorious.
She added: “I know this journey will have its challenges, but I also know that thanks to the care and strength of those around me, I am ready to face them head-on. I would also like to take a moment to express my thanks and appreciation to the women and men who have gone through this before me. It is the strength, courage and determination that Your demonstrations have not only been inspiring, but have also helped fuel the amazing progress we see in medicine today. Your travels have paved the way for better treatments and outcomes, and I am so grateful for that.
Schumacher-Cowley only missed a few practices while juggling her diagnosis with her on-field responsibilities, something that went unnoticed by her players.
“Even if she's not feeling well, you can never tell,” outside hitter Jess Mrozek said. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In a story published on Thursday, December 19. “She's always herself and it's always fun.”
