OWENSBORO, Ky. – Several key WKU athletics figures made a stop in Owensboro Tuesday night to discuss the state of Topper athletics as well as make a pitch for new fans.

Athletics Director Todd Stewart, men’s basketball coach Ray Harper, women’s basketball coach Michelle Clark-Heard, and football offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm spoke to a crowd in Owensboro in the second leg of the five-part ‘Toppers on Tour’ promotional trip across Kentucky.

The group visited Louisville Monday night in the first part of the tour, and they will wrap the trip by visiting Nashville, Elizabethtown and Glasgow in the next week.

Stewart opened and closed the meeting Tuesday evening with remarks encouraging the crowd to support the WKU teams.

He said trips like these are important to show potential fans across the state a side that they wouldn’t see watching the Toppers on TV.

“It’s just a really nice way for our fans to see our coaches in a different setting than just gameday and intermingle, and certainly it’s good to just get in front of people and talk about the program and where each coach gives a recap of the season and I give an overview of the athletics department,” he said. “We all talk about where we hope to go. I think it’s a good opportunity for people in the summer to kind of see where we are and certainly where we plan to go.”

Brohm was filling in for football coach Bobby Petrino Tuesday night. Petrino will join the group at every other stop on the tour and spoke in Owensboro last week.

The assistant coach said growing an in-state fanbase is important for a team looking to build momentum.

“You’ve got to get around the state and let people know how important they are to you, let people know how much you appreciate their support,” Brohm said. “We want the fans to come out and watch, and it’s up to us to do the very best we can to produce a a winning team, to produce a team that plays hard and plays with enthusiasm and really gives a great effort and make the game exciting.”

Toppers on Tour will make its next stop Thursday in Nashville.