The BC Lions are pleased to announce today the signing of Dave Ritchie as the new defensive coordinator. "We are very happy to welcome Dave back to BC," said General Manager and Head Coach, Wally Buono. "We know his aggressive style of defence will be an asset in 2005." A 44-year coaching veteran, Ritchie joins the Lions once again after a nine-year hiatus from the city of Vancouver. Ritchie has ten years experience in the CFL as head coach, where he ranks as the eighth most-winning coach in CFL history with 108 wins. Ritchie is most likely remembered in BC for leading the Lions to a Grey Cup Championship victory in 1994. Ritchie was most recently head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before being released midway through the 2004 campaign. Ritchie has ten years experience in a defensive coaching role for three CFL teams and three college teams. Ritchie and his wife Sharon have three children, Phyllis, Susan and Dave. They are also proud grandparents of eight grandchildren Sarah, Matt, Daniel, Katelyn, David, Kendra, Kylie Faith, and David F. Ritchie takes over the Defensive Coordinator position from Paul Arslanian, who resigned for personal reasons. BC LIONS NAME MIKE ROACH AS NEW DEFENSIVE LINE COACH VANCOUVER - The BC Lions are pleased to announce today the signing of Mike Roach as the Defensive Line coach. "I look forward to working with Mike. He has great experience working as a defensive line coach," said General Manager and Head Coach Wally Buono. "In Calgary last year, Mike was a part of the success of the Stampeders outstanding defence." Roach joins the Lions from the Calgary Stampeders, where he served as Secondary Coach. The year 2001 marked one of Roach's best seasons with the Stamps, where he led a rookie-laden secondary into one of the best in the league, winning a Grey Cup. Prior to the Stampeders Mike took a short hiatus from the CFL where he was in charge of the linebackers at the University of Texas, El Paso. Mike Roach's CFL coaching career began 21 years ago in Calgary in 1982, where he spent four seasons with the Stampeders. Mike moved north to Edmonton after the 1985 season for the next three years, which included a Grey Cup championship in 1987. From 1989 to 1991, Mike was on the staff of the Ottawa Rough Riders, serving as their Linebacker coach. Mike joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1994 as an Assistant Coach. He was promoted in 1996 to Defensive Coordinator. Roach hails from Rapid City, South Dakota. Mike and his wife Kaye have two sons, Pat and Tim.