EXHIBIT 99.1



                                  NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release, Monday, May 6, 2002

COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. DECLARES REGULAR QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

Elkhart,  Ind. - Coachmen Industries,  Inc. (NYSE: COA) today announced that its
Board of Directors  has declared a $0.05 per share regular  quarterly  dividend.
The dividend will be distributed on June 13, 2002 to  shareholders  of record as
of May 23, 2002. This is the 79th consecutive  quarter that Coachmen  Industries
has paid dividends. The $0.05 rate is unchanged from the last quarter.  Coachmen
Industries has approximately 16.0 million shares of common stock outstanding.

Founded in 1964,  Coachmen  Industries,  Inc.,  is one of the  nation's  leading
manufacturers of recreational  vehicles with well-known names including Coachmen
RV,  Shasta,  Viking and Georgie Boy.  Coachmen  Industries  is also the largest
modular home producer in the nation with its All American  Homes and  Mod-U-Kraf
subsidiaries.   Modular   commercial   and   telecommunication   structures  are
manufactured by the Company's Miller Building Systems subsidiary.

For more information:
     Joseph P. Tomczak
     Executive Vice President and
     Chief Financial Officer
     574-262-0123

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