Frank Roche, a former football player for the Jumbos, has helped developed a strong culture of civic engagement in Tufts Athletics since returning to campus as the Civic Life Administrator for Athletics in the fall of 2022.

In this recently-established position at Tufts, which is funded through the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts, Roche works with coaches and student-athletes to help coordinate Tufts Athletics’ community service and civic engagement. He networks within the community to find new opportunities and initiatives that match the interests of individual student-athletes and teams. In addition, he also leads the Civic Life Ambassador Program which is a civic leadership development program in which student-athlete leaders receive academic credit for their participation.

"We are very excited to welcome Frank back to Tufts," said Alexis Mastronardi, Tufts' Senior Associate Director of Athletics.  "We are thankful to Tisch College for providing our Department the opportunity to have a full-time staff member dedicated to our student-athletes’ civic engagement. In his time as a Jumbo student-athlete, Frank was extremely passionate about civic engagement and community service, and I know he will bring that same passion to his work in this position."

While at Tufts, Roche was the football team's nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy awarded by the National Football Foundation to the player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. His 12 receiving touchdowns at Tufts is tied for fifth-most all-time, and his 989 receiving yards in 2019 was a school record that is now third all-time.

"Being able to come back and work in the Tufts community, especially with the student-athlete population, has really been a perfect fit," Roche said. "My goal is always to be a valuable resource for coaches, players, and community partners so that civic engagement opportunities in Tufts Athletics are accessible, organized, and impactful.”

Roche received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts in 2019 as a political science major and entrepreneurial leadership minor. He then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Middle and High School Teaching in 2020. Originally from nearby Arlington, Mass., Roche has previous experience working with students as a high school teacher and coach. He is currently the head football coach at Arlington High School.