Williamsburg, Va. – William & Mary Director of Athletics Samantha K. Huge has announced Mike London, most recently the Head Coach at Howard University, as the Tribe's 30th head football coach.London

London will be formally introduced to the William & Mary community and to media at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in the President's Suite at Zable Stadium.

"This is an exciting day for William & Mary, and we are thrilled to welcome Mike and his family back to Williamsburg," Huge said. "Mike embodies the values and character that we need to lead our football program forward and he has demonstrated an ability to develop players and win championships over his nearly 30 years in coaching. His unique journey and commitment to the development of young men make him the perfect successor to carry on Coach Jimmye Laycock's 39-year legacy while forging a new path for Tribe Football.

"Our dedicated and passionate advisory group consisting of Joe Montgomery, Kevin Rogers, Todd Stottlemyer, Shawn Knight, Kendrick Ashton, Mike Leach and Lang Campbell all unanimously supported the decision to hire Mike. I want to thank the scores of former players, in particular, Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott during what has been a busy time, for their invaluable input during this process."

"I come to William & Mary with a deep appreciation for the university, football program and community," London said. "I am honored and excited to build on the incredible tradition of excellence Jimmye Laycock established. He is a part of the foundation of my career and someone I have always respected. I sincerely appreciate President Katherine Rowe and Samantha Huge for making this opportunity possible. I look forward to working with them to pursue championships while developing student-athletes who will pursue excellence in the classroom and on the playing field."

Having won a national title as head coach at the University of Richmond (2008) and having earned Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coach of the Year honors at the University of Virginia (2011), London returns to Williamsburg after serving as Howard University's head coach the last two seasons. London's tenure leading the Bison was highlighted with his selection as a finalist for the 2017 STATS Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Eddie Robinson Award, which is bestowed upon the nation's top head coach.

"We're delighted to welcome Coach London home to William & Mary," W&M President Katherine Rowe said. "He leads with integrity in every aspect of a football program. He embraces the distinctive rigor of William & Mary as well as our championship aspirations within those high standards."

In addition to his selection as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, London earned the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year award after guiding Howard to a 6-2 conference record – the program's first winning season since 2012. His inaugural campaign at HU was highlighted with a season-opening win at UNLV, which was lauded by ESPN as one of college football's greatest upsets.

London graduated from the University of Richmond in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a year later earned a degree in law enforcement from the Richmond Police Academy. He served as a detective from 1985-87.