Geoff Roche
Geoff Roche joined the University of Redlands as a full-time coach in 1998 after a two-year stint as the program's graduate assistant. He originally headed up both the men's and women's tennis programs from 1999 through 2003, and then focused on the men for the subsequent six years. He resumed a dual role in 2009-10, guiding both programs for the Bulldogs.
As of the 2011 men's tennis season, Roche owns an overall record of 215-104 to go along with an impressive 99-19 SCIAC mark, which includes five conference titles. He captured his 200th win in men's tennis with a 6-3 victory over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on April 10, 2010. He was also named the ITA/Wilson West Region Coach of the Year following the 2005 season. In 2001, he led the Bulldogs to the best finish of his coaching career when the team earned third place at the NCAA Championships.
Roche helped to continue the long-standing tradition of postseason competition and brought the men's total to 18 consecutive appearances. In addition, numerous individual players have qualified for the NCAA singles and doubles championships under his direction.
During his first stint with the women's program, he elevated the program to the upper echelong of the region, garnering the Bulldogs' first NCAA appearance in 2000. Redlands reepated that effort under Roche's leadership again in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
A committed student of the game, Roche tested at the highest level of P1 as a tennis professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) in late 2004. He also graduated from the USTA High Performance Coaching Program in August of 2005. Roche served as the coach of the 16 and under boys' and girls' Southern California Zonal team in 2005 and 2006. Following the 2008 season, Roche was named the California Division College Coach of the Year by the USPTA.
This Seattle transplant originally became a Bulldog by playing tennis for four years under former head coach Jim Ducey while pursuing his bachelor's degree in Economics. Aside from Phi Beta Kappa honors, Roche was also a CoSIDA Academic All-Distric honoree and a three-time winner of the University of Redlands Jim Verdieck Coach's Award. He later completed his Master of Arts through the School of Education while working as the team's graduate assistant coach.
Roche currently resides in Redlands where he is still an avid tennis player and all-around sports fan. In his spare time, he also enjoys reading, working in the yard, and spending time with friends and family. He lives in Redlands with his wife, Rachel, who is the Sports Information Director at Redlands, and their daughter, Kenzie.
