It was announced earlier today by Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez that Geoff Roche will be stepping away from his position of Director of Men's and Women's Tennis, effective November 12, 2021.  After more than 23 years of involvement at the University of Redlands, Roche looks forward to exploring other opportunities and spending more time with family, including his wife Rachel, who remains in her role of Associate Director of Athletics / Senior Woman Administrator, and their daughter Kenzie.

"Throughout my entire professional career, Redlands is all I have known.  The privilege of serving in this role is matched by few other college tennis programs in the country.  For that, I am extremely grateful. It has been an honor to represent the Maroon and Grey of Bulldog Tennis," stated Coach Roche. 

He began his Bulldog career as a student-athlete in 1992, became a graduate assistant for then-head coach Jim Ducey, and later moved into a full-time coaching role of both men's and women's tennis in 1999.  As a student-athlete, he competed on two SCIAC Championship teams, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and earned the prestigious Jim Verdieck Coaches' Award three out of four seasons.

"As a student-athlete, Geoff was committed to hard work, respectful of others, caring for a cause, learning and growing as a person, and dedicated to a life of goodwill.  He brought all those qualities to his coaching endeavors, and we, along with hundreds of student-athletes, are all the better for it," Martinez said.

At the helm of Bulldog Tennis, Coach Roche served in the dual head-coaching role for the first four years, then stepped away from the women's tennis program from 2003 to 2009, and later returned to the dual head-coaching role, which he has maintained since the 2009-10 season.   For the past three years, he has held the title of Director of Men's and Women's Tennis to culminate his 23-year tenure.

The list of Geoff Roche's coaching accomplishments includes:

• A record of 336 – 174 overall as the men's head coach, including a SCIAC dual record of 147 – 44 (.769 winning percentage)
• A record of 185 – 118 overall as the women's head coach, including a SCIAC dual record of 95 – 42 (.693) winning percentage
• The Bulldog Men's Tennis program won five SCIAC Championships and finished in the top three in the conference in eighteen of 21 seasons
• The Bulldog Women's Tennis program finished in the top three in the conference in 11 of 13 seasons. 
• Leading the Bulldog teams and individuals to the NCAA Championships for 18 consecutive seasons.  In addition to coaching numerous All-Americans over the years, he led the 2001 men's team to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
• Named ITA/Wilson West Region Coach of the Year (2005, 2019)
• Tabbed USPTA California Division College Coach of the Year (2008)

"I would like to thank all the current and previous members of our coaching staff, our alumni for their tremendous support and generosity, but most importantly, I would like to thank the student-athletes who dedicated themselves to something bigger than individual goals and dreams," Coach Roche added.  "They dedicated themselves to our program, one that is rich with history and tradition, but rooted in relationships, friendships, and championships.  We thrived in each area!"

Coach Roche mentored more than 20 graduate assistant and full-time assistant coaches, many of whom remain in the coaching profession today.  In addition, he previously took on the responsibility of teaching a class in the Physical Education minor and facilitated the well-known Bulldog Youth Sports Camp as the director.

Most recently, he has been instrumental in the success of the Coach Jim Verdieck Tennis Facility campaign process.  In partnership with the Office of Advancement, he has worked tirelessly with both Doug and Randy Verdieck and a leadership group of tennis alumni to bring the project to a level where it will no doubt be the first to break ground in the Campaign for Bulldog Athletics.  His commitment has gone well beyond the energy, outreach, and relationship building, as he and Rachel are lead donors in the project.    

"It has been an honor to have him as a colleague and leader in Bulldog Athletics during my tenure as the Director of Athletics," Martinez stated.  "A simple thank you is not enough for his years of service, dedication, integrity, passion, and friendship."

A search for Coach Roche's successor will begin immediately.  Assistant Coach Jake De Vries will continue the leadership in both programs during the transitional period.