WILLIAMSBURG, VA - William and Mary head football coach Jimmye Laycock announced the hiring of Jim Pletcher as defensive coordinator. Pletcher comes to Williamsburg with extensive knowledge of the Atlantic 10 conference and 30 years of collegiate coaching experience. He comes to campus after having served as the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Cornell University from 2001-03.

"Jim Pletcher gives our program a seasoned and established leader at defensive coordinator," Laycock said. "We are excited to bring a person with his credentials to campus. But as important as his on-field expertise is, Jim is an outstanding person as well. He will be a fine addition to our staff."

While at Cornell, Pletcher led a defensive unit that led the Ivy League in pass defense in 2003, allowing 182.5 yards per game through the air. Three players earned All-Ivy citations on the defensive side of the ball under Pletcher in 2003.

Prior to Cornell, Pletcher served as assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach at the University of Wyoming for the 2001 season. That followed a six-year term at the University of Memphis, where Pletcher served in a variety of positions, including four years as the squad's defensive coordinator. In Pletcher's second year at the helm of the Tigers defense, Memphis upset then-sixth-ranked Tennessee, 21-17.

This will be Pletcher's second stint in the state of Virginia, as he was the defensive coordinator at James Madison from 1985-95. In his time with the Dukes, Pletcher's defensive unit ranked among the top 20 in the nation on six occasions. JMU also reached the NCAA Playoffs three times, twice making it to the quarterfinals.

Before JMU, Pletcher served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the University of Connecticut from 1983-84. The 1983 Huskies squad tied for the Yankee Conference championship, while the 1984 team was 10th in the nation in pass defense under Pletcher's tutelage.

Pletcher also served at another current Atlantic 10 Football Conference school, as he was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Northeastern from 1981-83. In 1981, one of his players led the nation in interceptions, and in 1982, Northeastern had the country's best pass defense and was ranked 12th in the nation in total defense.

The first collegiate coaching position for Pletcher was at Springfield College, where he served as defensive backs coach from 1975-80. While at Springfield, Pletcher also served as an instructor of physical education and an academic advisor, among other duties.

A 1973 graduate of the University of Delaware, Pletcher received a master's degree in education from Springfield College in 1976.

Pletcher's hiring is subject to approval from the College's Board of Visitors. The Tribe begins spring practice on March 17, and will conclude spring drills with the annual Green and Gold Game on April 10 at Zable Stadium. W&M begins the 2004 season on Sept. 4 at North Carolina.