UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Never before have Penn State coaches participated in a traveling caravan of the magnitude at least 12 coaches are set to embark on during the next three weeks.

The Coaches Caravan, a nine-day, 18-stop excursion through seven states (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Ohio) and the District of Columbia kicks off on Monday with visits to downtown Philadelphia at lunch and Drexel Hill, Pa., for dinner.

Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien will headline the Coaches Caravan roster at all 18 stops on the tour.  Coach O'Brien and the traveling coaches will ride in the modified Fullington Trailways, Penn State-themed bus for the duration of the caravan.

"I am really looking forward to getting out on the road to meet the alums and fans," Coach O'Brien said.  "I really want to share my vision for the football program.  And then getting the opportunity to travel with a lot of the other coaches will be fun."

The list coaches includes men's basketball's Patrick Chambers (four stops), women's basketball's Coquese Washington (six stops), field hockey's Char Morett (three stops), men's volleyball's Russ Rose (one stop), men's and women's track and field/cross country's Beth Alford-Sullivan (four stops), women's golf's Denise St. Pierre (two stops), men's soccer's Bob Warming (six stops), men's golf's Greg Nye (six stops), men's hockey's Guy Gadowsky (six stops), women's hockey's Josh Brandwene (two stops) and Mark Pavlik (six stops).

"We need to get out there and meet people," Coach Chambers said.  "They need to feel a connection with me and our team.  And when you do that, it may entice the fans to get to campus, come to some games, and maybe even get to some road games if they are in the area where we are playing."

"So many people support Penn State and the women's basketball program," said Coach Washington.  "It is always exciting to get out and see some of the fans.  Having face-to-face interaction with them helps us learn what more we can do to make their experience with our program better.  It also gives us a chance to let them know how much we appreciate what they do for us."

Coach O'Brien will deliver a presentation on the road, highlighting some of his coaching philosophies, visions, core values and more.  It is also a great opportunity for the new leader of Penn State football to meet some of the loyal fans and alums in cities across seven states and Washington, D.C.

"Again, one of the things that is very important for me is for people to hear my vision for the program - the things we talk about with the players, like honesty, integrity, knowing your role, being involved in the community and keeping that balance between academics and football," Coach O'Brien said.

I will be joining Coach O'Brien and the traveling coaches on the bus during all nine days of the Coaches Caravan.  From the time the bus pulls out of the Bryce Jordan Center parking lot on Monday at 6:30 a.m. until it pulls back into town from Buffalo on May 17, GoPSUsports.com will have written and video coverage from every step of the way during a three-week trek.

"They (coaches and staff) are going to get a full dose of me.  I don't know whether that is good or bad (laughter)," Coach O'Brien said.  "I am looking forward to it.  It will be somewhat of a bonding trip with some of the other coaches, and I am looking forward to getting to know some of those people."

In previous years, Hall of Fame head coach Joe Paterno and a few select coaches hit the road for a limited number dinner events, but never before has there been a caravan with 18 stops featuring at least 12 coaches.

Coach O'Brien and the Penn State Coaches Caravan are coming to a city near you.  Register today by clicking the link listed below.  We look forward to seeing you on the road.


Penn State Coaches Caravan Registration


Follow GoPSUsports.com Media Specialist Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony