April 22, 2010

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Department in conjunction with the John Purdue Club, will be hosting the Boilermaker Coaches' Caravan featuring football coach Danny Hope, men's basketball coach Matt Painter, volleyball coach Dave Shondell, women's basketball coach Sharon Versyp and athletics director Morgan Burke.

"Our goal this summer is to see 2,000 John Purdue Club members and tell them what is going on within Purdue Athletics and to thank them for their support," Burke said. "This new format will allow Sharon, Danny, Matt, Dave and I, along with other staff, to do just that. The Caravan allows us to return the favor. All through the year we ask our Boilermaker fans to come see us and this is our way of coming to see them. There are so many exciting things on the horizon and this is the perfect format to share that with our fans."

The caravan will appear at six sites in May and June and will allow Boilermaker fans an opportunity for autographs, a tailgate-style buffet dinner with the coaches followed by a season recap and expectations for the 2010-11 season.

"Last year, our barnstorming events to introduce Coach Hope to the Boilermaker community were so well received, and feedback from our John Purdue Club members encouraged us to continue to offer the Boilermaker family a cost effective way to come together for an evening with our Purdue coaches," senior associate athletics director and John Purdue Club director Nancy Cross said.

"We think this format is family friendly, is responsive to challenging economic times and is a great warm-up to the football season, while kicking off the entire 2010-2011 athletics year. Our hope is that the caravan venues are filled to capacity for the Boilermaker faithful to hear what is on the horizon for Purdue Athletics."

The festivities will begin with autographs at 5:30 p.m. at each site, with the event program to begin at 6:30 p.m.

The first Coaches' Caravan will be held Tuesday, May 11, at Big Spring Country Club in Louisville, Ky. Reservations must be made by May 6th and the cost is $25 for John Purdue Club members, $30 for non-members and $15 for children 12 and under.

Chicago is the site of the second caravan, at Sully's House - Tap Room and Grill at 1501 N. Dayton St., on May 20. Reservations are due by May 14 and the cost is $20 for JPC members, $25 for non-members and $15 for children 12 and under.

The remaining Coaches' Caravans will be held in June and will all be held in Indiana. On June 10, the caravan moves to Fort Wayne, Ind., at the Historic Baker Street Train Station. Reservations are requested by June 4 and the cost is $25 for JPC members, $30 for nonmembers and $15 for children 12 and under. The caravan will be in Indianapolis on June 15, at the Rathskellar which is located at 401 East Michigan St. Reservations need to be made by June 9 and the cost is $20 (JPC), $25 (non-members) and $15 children 12 and under. Briar Ridge Country Club in Schererville, Ind., will be the site of the fifth caravan on June 17. Reservations are due June 11 and the cost is $25 (JPC), $30 (non-members) and $13 for children 12 and under.

The final Coaches' Caravan will be held June 24, in Monticello, Ind., at the Tippecanoe County Country Club. Reservations are requested by June 18 and the pricing is yet to be determined.

For more information or to register to attend, please contact the John Purdue Club office at 800-213-2239, 765-494-3248 or jpc@purdue.edu.

Boilermaker Coaches' Caravan Schedule - 5:30 p.m., local time

Date		City			Location

May 11		Louisville, Ky.		Big Spring Country Club - 5901 Dutchman's Ln.
May 20		Chicago, Ill. 		Sully's House Tap Room & Grill - 1501 N. Dayton St.
June 10		Fort Wayne, Ind.	Historic Baker Street Train Station - 221 W. Baker St.
June 15		Indianapolis, Ind. 	Rathskellar - 401 E. Michigan St.
June 17		Schererville, Ind. 	Briar Ridge Country Club - 123 Country Club Dr.
June 24		Monticello, Ind. 	Tippecanoe County Country Club - N. Shafer Dr.

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