All 13 of the Valparaiso University Department of Athletics’ head coaches toured the community on Wednesday as part of the Beacons’ third annual summer Head Coaches Bus Tour.
The head coaches engaged with community members and promoted their programs while spending time with fans, external stakeholders and each other. A full day of activities began bright and early as the bus arrived at Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Valparaiso for “AM Valpo,” a monthly networking event hosted by the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce that occurs on the first Wednesday of each month. A packed house of attendees each gave their 30-second elevator pitch for their business or service, including each Valpo head coach encouraging community members to support their program.
The next stop on the tour was a “For Kids Only Press Conference” held in the media room at the Athletics-Recreation Center. In a welcome change from the hard-hitting questions usually experienced during a Valpo press conference from journalistic publications like “The Victory Bell,” this event’s investigative probes came from a group of enthusiastic youngsters and included “When is your bedtime?” “What do you eat for dinner?” and “Do you like to play Minecraft?”
After a quick stop to thank Jimmy John’s for being a sponsor, the odyssey continued with the Valpo Coaches Show at Wings Etc. Grill & Pub in Valparaiso, a proud supporter of Valpo Athletics. The show, which aired on JED-TV and AM 1230 WJOB and was hosted by Sam Michel, featured five-minute segments with each of the 13 head coaches plus Director of Athletics Laurel Hosmer to look back at 2024-25 seasons and look ahead to 2025-26. A live audience also congregated to enjoy lunch, say hello to the coaches and check out the show. Click here to view the full show.
The bus’s next stop was the Valparaiso Boys & Girls Club for a “Kid Stop” question-and-answer event. Approximately 100 kids were in attendance, with many of them introducing themselves, stating their favorite sport and asking coaches questions like “What is the farthest someone has ever thrown a football?” or “Who is the GOAT in basketball?”
After that stop concluded, next up was a visit to Central Park Plaza, as coaches broke up into groups and handed out free ice cream coupons, posters and Valpo pom-poms downtown. Then, the coaches made their way to Valpo Velvet and took turns scooping ice cream for patrons, providing delightful service for customers. A long and fun-filled day concluded as the coaches enjoyed a dinner at a local restaurant to forge bonds with each other and unwind from the day’s events.
