April 26, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-- The Penn State Coaches Caravan is returning May 8-11 with seven stops across the Commonwealth and five additional head coaches are slated to join football coach James Franklin on the tour.
Men's gymnastics coach Randy Jepson and women's golf coach Denise St. Pierre will join Franklin for four stops on May 8-9 and women's basketball coach Coquese Washington also will attend the Hazleton and Harrisburg events on May 9.
Women's soccer coach Erica Dambach and men's and women's swimming coach Tim Murphy will join the 2016 Big Ten Football Coach of the Year for three stops on May 10-11.
The six participating coaches have combined to win numerous conference titles, with Dambach and Jepson having also guided their Penn State teams to NCAA Championships.
In addition, Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour will participate in the first six Caravan stops. Deputy AD Phil Esten also will attend several events.
Two of the seven Coaches Caravan stops are already sold out, the opening lunch event at Penn State York on May 8 and the lunch at Penn State Hazleton on May 9. A limited number of seats remain for the lunch in Altoona on May 11.
Advance registration is required for all events on the Penn State Coaches Caravan, which is jointly sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Nittany Lion Club. Fans can register for the Penn State Coaches Caravan at www.alumni.psu.edu/coachescaravan. As a benefit of membership, Penn State Alumni Association and Nittany Lion Club members began signing up for Coaches Caravan events at a reduced rate in mid-March. This year marks the fifth edition of the Penn State Coaches Caravan
The Coaches Caravan will roll out of Happy Valley on May 8, with stops in York (lunch) and Philadelphia/King of Prussia (evening reception), followed by stops in Hazleton (lunch) and Harrisburg (evening reception) on May 9, Pittsburgh for an evening reception on May 10 and Altoona (lunch) and Williamsport (evening reception) on May 11.
Franklin, the 2016 Sporting News National Coach of the Year, is scheduled to participate in all seven Coaches Caravan stops. At each event, alumni, friends and fans will hear updates on the Nittany Lions' nationally recognized 31-sport athletic program, learn about the 2017 football season, and get to know more about the academic and athletic achievements of 800 student-athletes --all while connecting with fellow Penn Staters.
Each of the Coaches Caravan events will feature a meet and greet with Franklin and the other Nittany Lion head coaches during the lunch or evening receptions prior to the programs. Franklin will meet with alumni and fans and talk about Penn State's 2016 Big Ten Championship run and Rose Bowl berth, as well as preparations for the 2017 season and how all Penn State alumni and fans can help build on Penn State football's tradition of excellence. Members of the Penn State football coaching staff may also attend selected events.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club, visit www.NittanyLionClub.com or call 1-800-NITTANY. To join the Penn State Alumni Association, visit alumni.psu.edu/membership.
More than 6,000 new football season tickets have been sold for the 2017 campaign and premium seating is available in Beaver Stadium's Mt. Nittany Club. For more information on club seating, please call the Club Seats and Suites office at 814-863-3143.
For information on Penn State Football season tickets, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Athletic Ticket Office in the Bryce Jordan Center weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.
The 2017 Penn State Coaches Caravan schedule of events and locations (subject to change):
| May 8 | York/Penn State York campus (Lunch) -- SOLD OUT |
| Philadelphia-King of Prussia/Valley Forge Casino (Evening Reception) | |
| May 9 | Hazleton/Penn State Hazleton campus (Lunch) -- SOLD OUT |
| Harrisburg/Penn State Harrisburg campus (Evening reception) | |
| May 10 | Pittsburgh/Omni William Penn (Evening reception) |
| May 11 | Altoona/Altoona Heritage Discovery Center (Lunch) |
| Williamsport/Genetti Hotel (Evening reception) |
Fans can follow the Penn State Alumni Association (@PennStateAlums or @PSUFBLetter), Penn State Athletics (@GoPSUsports) and the Nittany Lion Club (@NittanyLionClub) on Twitter.