Hall of Fame
It has been said that success starts with a solid foundation. If that is so, then what Amy Pope Schumacher provided during her time at CSUSB both on the court for coach Kim Cherniss’ volleyball program and in the classroom has left an indelible legacy of success that few will ever match for the Blue and Black.
A four-year starter at setter for the Coyotes from 1998-2001, the Riverside native became the program’s first dual All-American, earning national athletic honors for her quality of play at setter and also as an academic All-American by earning a 3.97 GPA in accounting.
The 2001 CCAA Player of the Year, Amy was the catalyst for the Coyotes who earned their first of 10 all-time CCAA championships during her senior season and helped guide CSUSB to its first two NCAA tournament appearances. That streak of two has increased to 13 consecutive seasons.
Her individual accolades include holding the single-season and career records for assists. She also found time to serve as president of the Student-Athlete Advisiory Council and was a four-time CSUSB Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Said Cherniss in her nomination letter of Pope for the 2002 CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which she she ultimately received.
“(Amy) was an absolute joy to coach. In four years, she never once showed a poor attitude, never questioned decisions, never pouted, never complained, never became selfish and never made excuses. She always took responsibility for the success and failures of the team. She was the consummate team player, always putting the team ahead of herself.’’
Simply said, Amy Pope was the catalyst of things to come and why she is a member of the 2013 Coyote Hall of Fame class.
“We had no idea that we would be the ones who would set the foundation for many good things to come,’’ Amy said. “I knew that I wanted to play for Kim and Danny (Scott) because of the type of people and coaches they were and are for that matter.
“When you’re in college, maybe you take the experience a little bit for granted because you’re playing and studying. Kim and Danny did such a great job of creating a family experience and that’s what I take from that even today. My teammates are my friends today and we attend each other’s weddings and our kids get to know my teammates’ children.’’
Amy and her husband Justin, who played baseball at CSUSB under head coach Don Parnell, are the parents of son Mason and daughter Avery. Her sister Kate Barton was a member of the Coyotes’ teams in 2010-11 and was the NCAA Elite 89 recipient, awarded to student-athletes with the highest GPA at an NCAA Championship event.
The Schumachers reside in Riverside, where Amy is a full-time mother, part-time fitness instructor and assists her family's business on a weekly basis.
