UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Building on the success of his vision to "Dominate The State," Penn State football coach James Franklin and several head coaches will embark on the Penn State Coaches Caravan tour this spring, with stops in 12 locales. Eight of the events will take place in Pennsylvania, with additional stops in Baltimore, New York City, Washington, D.C., and New Jersey.
Penn State Coaches Caravan general public registration is underway at alumni.psu.edu/coachescaravan and GoPSUsports.com. 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 March 23, with public registration beginning March 30. 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.
Six head coaches participating in the Penn State Coaches Caravan have been confirmed, with Patrick Chambers (men's basketball), Guy Gadowsky (men's hockey), Russ Rose (women's volleyball), Denise St. Pierre (women's golf) and Cael Sanderson (wrestling) all scheduled to join Franklin at selected events.
Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour also is scheduled to attend Coaches Caravan events. Additional head coaches and football assistant coaches are expected to attend Coaches Caravan events and will be announced once confirmed.
Franklin is scheduled to participate in all 12 Coaches Caravan stops. At each event, Penn Staters will be treated to a message from the Nittany Lions' head coach and at least two other head coaches, and have the opportunity to ask questions about the Nittany Lions' nationally recognized 31-sport athletic department. Attendees will be able to submit a question for a specific coach when they register or at the event.
Jointly sponsored by the Nittany Lion Club and Penn State Alumni Association, this will be the fourth edition of the Penn State Coaches Caravan, which will make stops at Nittany Nation strongholds across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic from May 5-7 and 19-21.
Each of the Coaches Caravan events will feature an opportunity to meet Franklin and the other Nittany Lion head coaches during the lunch or evening receptions prior to the programs. The second-year football head coach will meet with alumni and fans, and talk about his first season as head coach, preparations for the 2015 campaign and vision for Penn State football as well as how all Penn State alumni and fans can help build on Penn State football's tradition of excellence.
The Coaches Caravan customized coach will roll out of Happy Valley with Franklin, Gadowsky and St. Pierre on May 5, with stops in Harrisburg (lunch) and Lancaster (evening reception). The first week continues with stops in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore (May 6) and Altoona and Pittsburgh (May 7).
The second week begins May 19, as Chambers, Rose and Sanderson join the Caravan for lunch in Philadelphia and an evening reception in Bucks County, near Franklin's hometown of Langhorne. Chambers is from Newtown Square, also a Philadelphia suburb. The Coaches Caravan will then visit New York City and Northern New Jersey (May 20) and conclude in the Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre on May 21.
Franklin will be joined by head coaches who have helped champion Penn State's "One Team" philosophy, with the 31 varsity teams, Intercollegiate Athletics, 24 campuses, communities and constituencies all playing a role in the Nittany Lions' academic and athletic success. Penn State has captured 18 Big Ten Championships and five NCAA titles since Sept. 2012, while earning an NCAA student-athlete Graduation Rate of 89 percent.
The 2015 Coaches Caravan schedule of events, locations and coaches scheduled to attend (subject to change):
May 5 Harrisburg/Best Western Premier (Lunch)Coaches: James Franklin, Guy Gadowsky, Denise St. PierreLancaster/Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square (Evening reception)Coaches: James Franklin, Guy Gadowsky, Denise St. Pierre
May 6 Washington, D.C./J.W. Marriott Washington, D.C. (Lunch)Coaches: James Franklin, Guy Gadowsky, Denise St. PierreBaltimore/Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport (Evening reception)Coaches: James Franklin, Guy Gadowsky, Denise St. Pierre
May 7 Altoona/Lakemont Park Casino (Lunch)Coaches: James Franklin, Guy Gadowsky, Denise St. PierrePittsburgh/Doubletree by Hilton Cranberry (Evening reception)Coaches: James Franklin, Guy Gadowsky, Denise St. Pierre
May 19 Philadelphia/Hyatt at the Bellevue; Center City (Lunch)Coaches: James Franklin, Patrick Chambers, Russ Rose, Cael SandersonPhiladelphia/Sheraton Bucks County Hotel (Evening reception)Coaches: James Franklin, Patrick Chambers, Russ Rose, Cael Sanderson
May 20 New York City/Edison Ballroom (Lunch)Coaches: James Franklin, Patrick Chambers, Russ Rose, Cael SandersonNorthern New Jersey/Hilton Parsippany (Evening reception)Coaches: James Franklin, Patrick Chambers, Russ Rose, Cael Sanderson
May 21 Holiday Inn Allentown; Breinigsville (Lunch)Coaches: James Franklin, Russ Rose, Cael SandersonWilkes-Barre/The F.M. Kirby Center (Evening reception)Coaches: James Franklin, Russ Rose, Cael Sanderson
For the fourth consecutive year, Fullington Tours will provide a customized coach to transport all the Coaches Caravan participants throughout the 12-stop tour.
Fans can follow the Penn State Alumni Association (@PennStateAlums or @PSUFBLetter), Penn State Athletics (@GoPSUsports) and the Nittany Lion Club (@NittanyLionClub) on Twitter.