Former all-conference St. Francis player named new Thiel head coach

A former All-EIVA middle attacker one year after completing his college career will become the head coach at Thiel College.

The NCAA Division III school announced Tuesday that it hired former St. Francis starter Adam Roche to take over its men’s volleyball program for the upcoming season.

Roche while at St. Francis was an All-EIVA selection as a junior and senior. Those two seasons the middle attacker also finished in the nation’s top five for total blocks, including having a career-high 146 blocks as a junior.

Along with his conference awards, Roche during his senior season in 2013 finished ninth in the voting for the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Blocker of the Year.

“Adam played volleyball at the highly competitive Division I level, and he was very successful,” Thiel athletics director Jack Leipheimer said in a statement. “We believe his Division I experience will have a profound impact on our men’s volleyball program, which is still growing.”

Thiel ended last season 13-18 and lost in the CVC Tournament quarterfinals.

This will be the fourth year of existence for the Thiel men’s volleyball program. The Tomcats in their first three seasons have yet to have an overall winning record, but they did finish 5-5 in conference play last season.

“I am excited to be named the head coach of Thiel’s men’s volleyball program,” Roche said in a statement. “This is a great opportunity for me to help the men’s program grow. I am looking forward to seeing how well the program develops and helping the players grow their knowledge of the game.”