Every athlete can tell a story about her favorite piece of equipment: an old glove, a favorite ball, a lucky swimsuit. For Kathy Cunningham, there was magic in an old pair of high jump shoes. She shared, “My favorite and most vivid memory was the week leading up to the day I set the record in high jump. I had convinced my parents that I should have special high jump shoes […] I picked out a slick pair of red Pumas and couldn’t wait to jump in them.” Unfortunately, the meet that weekend was on an asphalt track made slippery by rain; meet officials banned spikes. Cunningham remembered, “My brand new shoes stayed in my gym bag, and I started warming up in my old grey Adidas running shoes. The elements and environment should not have led to a successful day, but for some reason I was in the zone and felt like I was floating with every jump I took. My old shoes earned me a school record of 5’8”, which my new shoes were never able to match.”The lesson of those old shoes, that what’s inside matters more that what’s on the surface, drove Cunningham to an accomplished high school and collegiate career. As eager a competitor on the volleyball and basketball courts as she was on the track, she made the most of every opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with others. She credits John Garrison for opening her eyes to “how fun, fast-paced and exciting the sport of volleyball could be.” A self-proclaimed “sponge,” she eagerly learned how to hit and block, gaining confidence as Garrison pushed her to play at a higher level. Coach Sandy Stelmach continued to cultivate her passion for the sport and taught her to play multiple positions. Cunningham’s hard work earned her a spot on the 1984 and 1985 DuPage Valley All-Conference teams. In her senior year, she was named to the Chicago Tribune All-Star Volleyball team and was a USAV National Runner-Up and an AAU Volleyball National Champion.Winter found Cunningham playing basketball for the Lady Redskins. She praised coaches Bud Berger, Andy Nussbaum and John Schaefer for creating a “competitive and team-oriented environment” where “seniors where welcoming of freshmen and the same expectations were applied to all.” Though she loved the competition on the court, she cherishes most the friendships that came from her team – friendships that are still very dear today.Those special track shoes and competitive fire served her well in track and field, as she competed at the 1983 and 1985 state track meets. In 1985, she was named Naperville Central Track Athlete of the Year. That same year, she earned a spot on the Daily Journal’s All-Area Athlete First team. Coach George Cyr was the transformative force that shaped her into a runner and a jumper, a transformation she says allowed her to be part of great relays that set records at that time. Her favorite coach of all, however, was her big brother, Mike, who was a record holding high jumper for Naperville Central and competed at University of Iowa. As she said, “Mental imagery is so important in all sports, and I had it down after watching him succeed for so many years.” Cunningham’s own picture of success inspired all who watched her compete.Cunningham’s story in sport continued after she left Naperville Central’s gym and track for the University of Notre Dame. As part of the Fighting Irish Women’s Volleyball team, she set the current record for kills in a match with 33. In her junior year, she played at the U.S. Olympic Festival, and as a senior, she led her team as captain and MVP. After graduating with a degree in English and Business, Cunningham continued her love of sport as assistant volleyball coach at the University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University. In 1993, she became the Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During her 14 years as head coach, she compiled a record of 271-152 and coached her teams to six NCAA appearances, eight regular season conference titles, and four Horizon League tournament titles. She was a seven-time Coach of the Year and the 1999 District Coach of the Year. While humbled by her own awards, Cunningham is especially proud of the achievements of her student-athletes. In her tenure, she coached one Academic All-American, six COSIDA Academic-All District honorees, four AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans, 35 All-League players and one Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, as well as many other award-winning players. One of the most telling illustrations of her profound influence is the fact that she mentored eight former assistants and players to Division 1 coaching careers. In 2007, after a storied coaching career, Cunningham was named the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator.Despite all of her personal and professional success both on and off the court, Cunningham’s most important work has been with her family. She has been married to husband Steve Litzau for 18 years, and together they have four children: Lauren (17), Danielle (15), Kayce (13) and Nick (11). She offers this guidance to all student-athletes, her children included: “Believe in yourself. Be a great teammate. Play for the love of the sport. Follow your dreams.”Cunningham’s wisdom, perspective, and example are profound models for all who follow in her footsteps. She has left great shoes to fill in each of her communities – shoes touched by the magic that comes from pure love of sport, school, and team.