University of Redlands

Geoff Roche has returned to the University of Redlands, effective November 15 in a new role within the Advancement Office serving as the first Athletics Advancement Officer.  In this new position he will work with the Bulldog Athletic Department and Alumni Leadership group in fundraising efforts.  He did a tremendous job working with the advancement office to successfully fundraise for the Coach Jim Verdieck Tennis Center making that project a reality.   

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.

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)

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 was 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 was 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 were the lead donors in the project.