About Us
Our Mission
To engineer the systems that make elite performance measurable, repeatable, scalable and safer across sport, tactical and industrial environments.
The institute invests in people, education, research and discovery to advance the future of human performance, bringing people, science and technology together to redefine what's possible. At TCU, the Roach Institute unites expertise from across the university, including engineering, health sciences, athletics, business and research, to address real-world challenges. By connecting faculty, students and researchers with industry, sport, healthcare, tactical and community partners, the institute transforms ideas into practical, evidence-based solutions that create lasting impact.
Meet Our Team
Our team brings together researchers, educators and practitioners from across TCU to lead the institute's work every day.
Associate Director of the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering
z.gillen@tcu.edu
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About Our Namesake
The Roach family’s connection to TCU spans more than six decades. The late John V. Roach ’61 (MBA ’65) and Jean Wiggin Roach ’64 first met as students. Their daughters, Amy Roach Bailey and Lori Roach Davis, are both alumni, and the next generation of the family continues the tradition with recent graduates and current students. John V. Roach was a member of the TCU Board of Trustees from 1981 to 2022. He served as chair from 1990 to 2005, leading the university through a period of transformational change and growth.
The Roach family and The Roach Foundation of Fort Worth have made significant contributions across campus, supporting academic programs, scholarships, athletics facilities and student initiatives that advance TCU’s mission. This includes major campus efforts such as the restoration of Frog Fountain Plaza at the Brown-Lupton University Union, reinforcing their longstanding commitment to enhancing both the academic and campus experience for Horned Frogs.
Their philanthropy has helped shape many visible spaces and programs at the university, including the John V. Roach Dean of the TCU Neeley School of Business and the Jean W. Roach Chair of Laboratory Schools in the College of Education, plus Judy and the late Paul Andrews’ gift in honor of John V. Roach to name TCU’s Honors College. They have established and backed numerous endowed faculty funds, academic programs and athletics facilities, as well as nine student scholarships.
In honor of their generous philanthropic support, their name can be found on academic buildings and athletics facilities across campus, including the Roach Family Plaza at the Spencer and Marlene Hays Business Commons, the John & Jean Roach Terrace and the Roach North Colonnade at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center, the Roach Professional Development Center at the William E. and Jean Jones Tucker Technology Center, the Delta Delta Delta House named for Jean, Amy and Lori, the Roach/King Suite Level at the Dutch Meyer Athletic Complex and the Roach Concourse at the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Basketball Practice Complex.
Their commitment to the Institute strengthens TCU’s ability to connect academic research with applied innovation, an approach that continues to grow in importance as the university expands research funding and deepens industry partnerships.