Goshen, IN — Goshen College Athletic Director Ken Pletcher will leave his position later this year and move into a new role as a major gift officer in the college's Development Office.

Pletcher, who is beginning his 17th year of work at the college, will continue to support the Maple Leafs athletic program while he assumes broader fund-raising responsibilities for the college.

"Ken's positive spirit and can-do attitude make him a perfect fit for our efforts to minister to our donors as they align their heads, hearts and financial resources," said William Jones, vice president for institutional advancement. "I'm very pleased about Ken's continued commitment to Goshen College, his alma mater."

Pletcher said deciding to change jobs was difficult, but is a decision he is excited about. "I've been actively involved in athletics all of my life and have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with a great group of people here at Goshen College," he said. "I will especially miss the contact with the student athletes.

"This was not an easy decision to make. At the same time, I'm really excited to move to a new role in the Development Office and the opportunity to support the entire Goshen College community. I'm looking forward to these new and challenging experiences."

Bill Born, vice president for student life and dean of students, said that Pletcher will continue to carry out his duties as athletic director until interim leadership of the program is developed and announced later this year. A national search for a new athletic director will begin in January 2008, with an expected starting date of July 1, 2008.

Born said Pletcher has done an excellent job as athletic director and will be missed. "Ken's long-standing love and support of Goshen College has served him well in the role of athletic director. He has effectively led the Athletic Department in succeeding athletically as well as supporting Goshen College's overall goal of excellence by encouraging the department to seek quality student athletes who understand the Goshen College core values and the benefits of a Goshen College education," Born said.

"Ken's role with Development will also allow him to continue to support the athletic program as he continues to work with the Maple Leafs Athletic Club."

Born noted that in his seven years as athletic director, Goshen College athletes have received 85 Academic All-American Awards -- a tribute to Pletcher's leadership of the athletic program and its philosophy of nurturing the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of its participants, players and coaches.

A Middlebury (Ind.) High School graduate, Pletcher, 59, has a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Goshen College and a master's degree in physical education from Indiana University.

He has had a varied career, mostly revolving around teaching and athletics, and he is in his third stint at Goshen College. Pletcher worked at Goshen College in 1972-74, 1976-82 in instructional, coaching, intramural sports and admissions positions.

He also taught and coached in the Wa-Nee school system, in 1975-76, worked from 1982 to 1984 as assistant production manager and personnel manager for Wieland Designs, Inc. of Goshen, and, from 1984 to 1999, he worked for Northridge High School as a teacher, coach and later as athletic director.

Pletcher returned to Goshen College in 1999 to become athletic director and chairman of the Physical Education Department. Since then he also has been associate professor of physical education, coordinator of the Champions of Character program and has coordinated fund-raising activities of the Maple Leafs Athletic Club.

Despite his new responsibilities, Pletcher said he plans to keep his close ties to student-athletes and to the athletic program -- on and off the job. "I hope to maintain a close connection to the Athletic Department through my continuing involvement in the Maple Leafs Athletic Club and will enjoy the opportunity to watch athletic contests as a fan," he said.