Penn State women’s volleyball is officially set to enter a new era with Katie Schumacher-Cawley taking the reins.
On Monday morning, Penn State announced Schumacher-Cawley’s promotion from interim head coach to the permanent position. She will succeed longtime leader Russ Rose and serve as just the third head coach in program history.
“Being chosen as the next head coach at my alma mater, Penn State, is a dream come true,” Schumacher-Cawley said in a statement. “The love I have for this storied University, passionate community, and all things Blue and White is unmatched.”
Schumacher-Cawley was a two-time All-American for Penn State and played a key role in delivering the team’s first national title in 1999. She also played basketball for the Lady Lions from 2001 to 2002.
Schumacher-Cawley returned to Penn State in 2018 as Rose’s top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She has nine years of head coaching experience thanks to an eight-year stop at Illinois-Chicago and a single-season stint with Penn.
“Katie’s time as a head coach was filled with success on the court, in the classroom and in the community,” said Sandy Barbour, Penn State’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “As an assistant coach with the Nittany Lions the last four seasons, she has demonstrated her commitment to preparing our students for success in all aspects of their lives.
“During our search process, we were looking for candidates with demonstrated success as a head coach, a commitment to excellence in competition and academics, and character and values that match Penn State’s. We found all of that. The future of Penn State Women’s Volleyball is very bright with Katie at the helm. I’m very excited about what lies ahead for our program and the current and future student who will benefit from Coach Cawley’s leadership and expertise.”
Moving forward, Schumacher-Cawley will likely need to put her recruiting prowess to use to restock her lineup. A handful of Penn State stars entered the transfer portal last month, likely due to Rose’s impending retirement after a historic career. So far, libero Jenna Hampton and outside hitter Annie Cate Fitzpatrick have transferred to South Carolina and Florida, respectively.
Although Schumacher-Cawley is uniquely qualified to lead this program, succeeding Rose will be a tough task. The longtime Nittany Lions coach led Penn State to seven national titles, 17 Big Ten championships, and a 1,330-229 (.853) overall record — easily the most wins and the highest winning percentage of any coach in Penn State history. Rose’s wins rank first among all Division I coaches.
Penn State’s 2021 season came to a close in December following an NCAA Tournament loss to Pitt. The Nittany Lions went 21-11 on the season and punched their tickets to their 41st straight postseason bracket — the most of any program.
The Nittany Lions won’t take the court again until late August. For now, Schumacher-Cawley says she’s looking forward to beginning a new era at Rec Hall.
“To my fellow Penn State Volleyball alumnae who have given their blood, sweat, and even tears to this program, know I am here representing all of you,” she said. “Our Nittany Lions will continue to make you proud day in and day out. We look forward to welcoming you back here to Rec Hall. We Are!”
Schumacher-Cawley called Rose “the best to ever do it,” and credited him for his guidance and mentorship. Rose also offered a vote of confidence for his successor.
“I would like to congratulate Katie on her well-deserved appointment as the head coach at her alma mater,” Rose said. “Her experience as a student-athlete in both volleyball and basketball at Penn State, as well has her loyal commitment to the program as a staff member, certainly prepare her to lead the Nittany Lions in the future. I am happy that Katie, [her husband] Mike and their daughters will be able to experience being a part of the Penn State family in this special way.”
