In a moment that transcends sports, Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley will take center stage at the 2025 ESPYs to receive the prestigious Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, capping off a year defined by grit, grace, and glory.
The head coach of the NCAA Champion Penn State Nittany Lions not only led her team to the national title, but also battled through personal and professional challenges that would’ve broken most. Through unwavering strength—and the love of her family, coaching staff, and her community—Schumacher-Cawley emerged not just victorious, but legendary.
🏆 NCAA Champion
🏆 Big Ten (B1G) Champion
🏆 B1G Coach of the Year
🏆 Jimmy V Award Honoree
The award, named after the late Jim Valvano, honors individuals who embody the spirit of “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up”—and this season, nobody lived those words louder than Coach Katie.
Joining her at the ESPYs in Los Angeles will be her husband, children, coaching team, and the five resilient seniors who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her in the Lions’ unforgettable championship run.
Whether in the locker room or on the sideline, Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley has become a symbol of what it means to lead through adversity and to rise when the world expects you to fall.
Tomorrow night, the whole world will rise to honor her.
📺 Watch the ESPYs live and witness history in the making.
