This article originally appeared in The Fordham Ram in April 2020.
On Friday, Fordham Athletic Director Dave Roach announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2019-20 academic year.
“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire at the end of June,” Roach, 70, said in a statement. “It has been an exceptionally satisfying and rewarding forty-five years in intercollegiate athletics, and I am incredibly grateful for all that my time in athletics has given me. It is far more than I ever imagined.”
Since his hiring in 2012, Roach oversaw improvements to Fordham’s athletic facilities, including a multimillion dollar project to install a new floor at the Rose Hill Gym this past summer. He also oversaw the success of Fordham’s softball (six straight A-10 titles), women’s basketball (two NCAA Tournament appearances) and baseball (A-10 champions in 2019) teams. He also oversaw the contract extension of Fordham Men’s Basketball coach Jeff Neubauer in 2016; the Rams have finished last in the Atlantic 10 each of the last three years, with just nine conference victories in that time.
“Fordham and its student athletes are deeply grateful to Dave for his eight seasons of leadership on and off the field,” said Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, in a statement. “I know the Fordham community joins me in thanking Dave for his long service, and in wishing him a joyful retirement.”
Reports also surfaced on Friday that Fordham was looking to make changes in the men’s basketball program that would include a new head coach, but nothing has been made official by the school. ZAGSBLOG.com’s Adam Zagoria is reporting that a change involving Neubauer could take place by Monday. The team has lost 64 games in the last three seasons.