UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Kathy (Phillips) Drysdale, a former Lady Lion basketball standout and long-time employee in Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, passed away Friday at the age of 53, according to Penn State Sports Communications.
Drysdale is survived by her son, Dereck Lively II, who plays for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Arrangements have not been announced at this time.
Drysdale was a letterwinner for the Penn State women’s basketball team from 1988-92. She’s a member of the 1,000-point club for the Lady Lions, scoring 1,295 points in her career to sit 22nd in the record book. Drysdale was an integral part of the Lady Lions becoming the first team in the Northeast to achieve a No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press poll. She was a third-team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 1990, while earning MVP honors in the 1990 Atlantic 10 Tournament and All-Tournament Team accolades in 1991.
The native of Southfield, Michigan, finished her career with 717 rebounds, 89 blocked shots, 117 steals and 94 assists. She averaged 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 121 career appearances with a 52.6% career field goal percentage, which ranks in the top 10 in program history. She still holds the school record for consecutive field goals made with 10 against Temple on Jan. 8, 1990. She also ranks in the top 20 in Penn State history in rebounds and blocks.
In 2011, Drysdale returned to her alma mater as the Penn State women’s basketball marketing manager. She was responsible for all marketing efforts for women's basketball and worked closely with the Nittany Lion Kids Club and Code Blue student rewards program.
During her 13 years in Penn State Athletics marketing, Drysdale impacted nearly every sport program. She worked with the National Champion wrestling program for much of Cael Sanderson’s tenure and the softball team for nearly a decade. Her most recent position consisted of coordinating the marketing efforts, ticketing and fan experience for women’s volleyball, softball, cross country and track & field.
Upon graduating from Penn State with a degree in general arts and sciences in 1992, Drysdale worked for the NBA’s 76ers from 1993-2006. In her time with the 76ers, she managed game presentation, including dance team performances and in-arena contests. Among Drysdale’s accomplishments with the Sixers, she implemented several season ticket holder events including the 1999 NBA Draft Party and annual Beach Bash.
Drysdale landed the head coaching position at Penn State-Abington after her time with the 76ers. During her tenure at the Penn State Commonwealth Campus, Drysdale accumulated a 36-65 record as the women's basketball head coach while juggling sports information duties for 14 varsity sports. In her role as sports information director, she updated the athletics website, headed the department's social media efforts and organized game day set up and all athletics banquets. As head coach, Drysdale was instrumental in the success of Samantha Frick, who became Abington's all-time scoring leader with 1,494 points.
Drysdale left Penn State Athletics in November 2023 and moved to Dallas to spend time watching Dereck play for the Dallas Mavericks after being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
