Penn State women’s volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley was awarded the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2025 ESPYS last night. The award, named after former NC State basketball coach Jim Valvano, goes to a “deserving member of the sporting world who has overcome great obstacles through perseverance and determination.” To say Schumacher-Cawley fits the bill would be an understatement after she battled through — AND BEAT — breast cancer while leading the Nittany Lions to a national championship in December.
You can watch her story and her acceptance speech below.