Annual WVU Coaches Caravan Glade Springs stop coming

The longest-running fundraising event for West Virginia University athletics keeps going.

The WVU Coaches Caravan will kick off May 4, and one of the stops will be at The Resort at Glade Springs. About 20 officials from the WVU athletics department will be at the venue on Wednesday, May 6. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the event will start at 6 p.m.

Southern West Virginia has been hosting a stop on the caravan since 1970, and this will be the 54th.

“It would have been 56 but Covid knocked us out a couple of times,” said Jim Ferguson, a member of the Mountaineer Athletic Club who organizes the event.

Among those who have been confirmed to appear are head football coach Rich Rodriguez, head men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge and head women’s basketball coach Mark Kellogg, as well as Director of Athletics Wren Baker.

There will also be coaches from the Olympics sports, depending on availability.

WVU football and men’s basketball play-by-play announcer Tony Caridi will emcee the event. Caridi, who has been in that capacity since 1997, will be three days removed from receiving the Morehouse Award from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Also, the annual Mountaineer Spirit Award will be presented by Reese Allen, who on Friday will officially become the 71st Mountaineer Mascot. He will be presented the rifle by current mascot and Midland Trail graduate Cade Kincaid during the annual Passing of the Rifle ceremony.

Ferguson said there will be a tailgate outside the white tent at the Glade Springs event with hamburgers and hot dogs. Other food and nonalcoholic beverages will be available. Legal beverages must be purchased.

Individual tickets are available for $50, and tables seating 10 are available for $750.

Tickets can be purchased by going to mountaineerathleticclub.com and clicking on Events.