AMHERST, MA - Amherst College has named Jim Plumer head coach of its women's ice hockey program for the 2003-04 season. He replaces Kay Cowperthwait, who, after six seasons as head coach, remains at Amherst as senior women's administrator and assistant women's golf coach.

Plumer comes to Amherst after three seasons as an assistant at one of the top Division III women's hockey programs in the nation, NESCAC rival Bowdoin College, where he helped coach the Polar Bears to a 62-12-7 record, a pair of NCAA Final Four appearances, the 2002-03 regular season conference title and the 2001-02 NESCAC Tournament championship. While at Bowdoin, working under 2002-03 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year Michele Amidon, Plumer was a vital cog on a staff that produced five First-Team All-Americans and was recognized with back-to-back NESCAC Coach of the Year honors.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity, taking over a program that is starting to mature at a college that values success in the classroom and on the playing field," says Plumer. "I'm excited to work with a committed group of student-athletes and am confident that with my NESCAC background, we can become a significant player in women's hockey over the next several years."

"We are delighted to have Jim Plumer join us," added Amherst athletic director Peter Gooding. "He has established an excellent reputation as a women's hockey coach and enjoys great respect from his peer coaches."

Plumer, a Master Level coach within USA Hockey, has worked and continues to coach at a variety of high-level camps and showcases, including the Elite Hockey Camps at Dartmouth College, the North American Women's Hockey Showcase in Burlington, Vermont and the USA Hockey Select Festival in Phoenix, Arizona. He's been active in youth hockey as well, serving on the board of directors and working as director of girls' programs and assistant coaching director for the Casco Bay Hockey Association in Portland, Maine.

Plumer gained his first coaching experience as a student-assistant at his alma mater, Colby College, where he graduated in 1983 with a degree in psychology. He went on to coach girls' hockey and co-ed track at North Yarmouth Academy before hiring on at Bowdoin.