Aug. 19, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
Penn State head coach James Franklin today announced the addition of Jay Takach as the program's head football equipment manager.
Takach replaces Brad "Spider" Caldwell, who retired from the University in June after 31 years of working with Penn State football, including the last 13 years as the head equipment manager.
Takach comes to Happy Valley after serving 10 years at the University of Houston, including the last nine as the assistant athletics director for equipment operations. In his role with equipment operations, Takach managed the day-to-day relationship with Nike and supervised a staff of two full-time assistants and 13 managers that handled the equipment needs for Houston's 17 sports.
A native of Houston, Takach spent three years at Virginia Tech before joining the Cougars' staff. He was responsible for inventory, away game travel, equipment maintenance and student manager supervision while with the Hokies.
During his time at Houston and Virginia Tech, Takach was part of 12 teams that competed in bowl games.
Takach earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Michigan State in 2000. He also received his master's degree in health and physical education from Virginia Tech.
More than 5,000 new Penn State football season tickets and 54,000 single game tickets have been sold for the 2014 campaign. Alumni and fans are able to purchase Penn State football season tickets and make their Nittany Lion Club donation online at GoPSUsports.com/seasontickets, while choosing their own seats by utilizing Virtual Venue. New season tickets also are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Alumni and fans also are able to choose their own football single game seats online by utilizing the Ticketmaster Interactive Seat Map. Single game tickets are available at www.PSUnrivaled.com, by calling 1-800-NITTANY or visiting the Bryce Jordan Center Box Office.A new Penn State football partial season ticket plan is on sale for the Akron, Ohio State, Maryland and Michigan State games and represents a nearly five percent savings from the single game prices. Approximately 800 partial season ticket plans have been sold and are available only by calling 1-800-NITTANY.
The Recent Graduate ticket program gives Penn State graduates who earned an undergraduate degree from 2010-14 at any campus the opportunity to purchase up to two season tickets for $300 per ticket for the seven-game home schedule this fall. The cost includes a $50 donation to the Nittany Lion Club and is a savings of 35 percent from the regular $460 season ticket price ($360 + $100 NLC donation). Nearly 800 Recent Graduate program season tickets have been sold. Interested recent graduates can call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Penn State returns 40 letterwinners and 15 starters (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist) for the upcoming season and will play a trio of 2013 Top 10 teams this fall. The Nittany Lions will host Rose Bowl Champion Michigan State (Nov. 29), Ohio State (Oct. 25, 8 p.m.), Northwestern (Sept. 27-Homecoming, 12 p.m.) and Maryland (Nov. 1) during its 2014 Big Ten home schedule. Penn State will host Akron (Sept. 6, 12 p.m.), Massachusetts (Sept. 20) and Temple (Nov. 15) during its non-conference slate.
The Nittany Lions open the season Aug. 30 vs. UCF in the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Penn State Football is on Twitter (@PennStateFball) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/PSUFball).