The Valparaiso University Department of Athletics has announced plans for a second annual Head Coaches Bus Tour, which will take place on Wednesday, June 5.

Head coaches from every Valpo program and members of the Valpo Athletics staff will tour The Region to help generate buzz for the upcoming 2024-2025 athletics season and promote ticket sales. The three public stops on the tour will represent an opportunity for fans to have personalized access to each of the department’s head coaches.

The tour’s first public stop will be a Community Breakfast and Q&A at Aberdeen Manor in Valparaiso from 8:45-10 a.m. The coaches will discuss their programs and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. Click here to register for this event.

Fans are invited to stop by Catch Table and Tap in Merrillville for a live radio show featuring interviews with all 13 head coaches from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The show will air on JED-TV and AM 1230 WJOB.

The final public stop on the tour will be the return of a hit from last year’s event, the Community Meet and Greet at Zao Island in Valpo beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring the whole family to meet all of the coaches, get pictures with mascots Beacon and Blaze and more. The first 50 children will receive a free $10 game card. Four lucky families will receive a free family fun pack for Zao Island, courtesy of Valpo Athletics. The pack will include free attraction passes and game cards worth $150. Click here to enter; winners will be contacted via email.

The inaugural tour in 2023 generated local media coverage from ValpoLife.com, The Times of Northwest Indiana and The Victory Bell. The coaches show radio remote provided additional exposure to Valpo Athletics, airing on AM 1230 WJOB and JED-TV. Posts about the event received over 17K organic X (formerly known as Twitter) impressions during the day of the tour and the day following the tour. Nearly 10,000 more were reached on Facebook and Instagram. Print materials were distributed throughout the day on the stops of the tour to raise awareness for the Valpo Brand. The tour also presents a team-building opportunity for head coaches across all sports who enjoy spending time with one another in addition to interacting with the community throughout the day.