Former NCAA All-American Katie Schumacher-Cawley enters her fifth season on the coaching staff for the University of Illinois at Chicago volleyball team and her fourth year as top assistant coach for the Flames.

"Katie has really become a phenomenal mentor to these young women," said head coach Nancy Mueller. "They look to her for guidance in the classroom, on the court, and in life. She has really matured as a coach and as a recruiter, which will help guide this program into the national spotlight. I believe Katie is quickly becoming one of the most sought after assistants in the country because of what she can bring to any program."

Being an offensive weapon during her collegiate career, it comes as no surprise that UIC Head Coach Nancy Mueller utilizes the former Penn State standout in much of the same capacity as a coach. Schumacher-Cawley's primary on-court responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the teams' offensive systems.

Along with her on-court responsibilities, Schumacher-Cawley also serves as the Recruiting Coordinator, Travel Coordinator, and Academic Liaison to the players. Schumacher-Cawley has proven to be an outstanding role model for the team, and serves as a player counselor when necessary.

A 2002 graduate of Penn State, Schumacher-Cawley helped lead the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Division I Championship in 1999 and three Big Ten Conference championships during her career at University Park.

Schumacher-Cawley was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, two-time All American and an AVCA All-Region selection in 2001. Schumacher tallied 1,310 kills (tenth in Penn State history), 299 blocks (eighth in Penn State history) and 772 digs.

Schumacher-Cawley, a Chicago, Ill., native and a 1997 graduate of perennial powerhouse Mother McAuley, first got a taste of the collegiate coaching life in 2002 as she served as a volunteer coach for the University of Illinois. She had spent her entire collegiate career at Penn State serving as a coach for the Nittany Lions' summer camps in both volleyball and basketball.

Schumacher-Cawley was married on May 26, 2007 to Mike Cawley of Pittsburgh.