Hofstra University Athletics

Stephen Roche became the head coach of the Hofstra men's soccer program on January 1, 2026. He is the 10th head coach in program history. Roche, who has been on staff for 10 seasons, came to Hofstra in June 2016 and was promoted to associate head coach on April 30, 2021. In September 2024 he was named the program's head coach in waiting and took over the reigns from Richard Nuttall, who transitioned to a role in athletic development at Hofstra. 

In his 10 seasons on the staff, Roche has helped the Pride to CAA Championship appearances each year, with Hofstra winning the title in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Pride advanced to the finals in 2018 and 2020-21, and the semifinals in 2016, 2019 and 2025. The Pride claimed the CAA regular season title in Roche’s first season (2016), posting a 7-1 conference record, its best CAA winning percentage since joining the league. The Pride matched that mark in 2025, winning the CAA North Division. In 2021, Hofstra won a program record 18 games en route to the NCAA Third Round and finished the season with a national ranking of 13 and a No. 8 showing in the NCAA RPI. In 2023 Hofstra earned a national seed (#13) for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA Third Round once again. The 2024 season saw the Pride earn a No. 7 national seed and a final ranking of No. 23. Hofstra earned its first NCAA at-large bid in 2025 and advanced to the third round, finishing with a No. 20 national ranking. 
 
During his tenure with the Pride, Roche has been responsible for tactical approach and implementation, recruiting, scheduling and scouting. The team has posted a 114-47-31 record over the last 10 seasons, and has a 49-14-14 mark in league play during that time. He has assisted in the development of some of the top players in program history with Joseph Holland, Sean Nealis, Matthew Vowinkel, Ryan Carmichael, Eliot Goldthorp, and Jacob Woznicki each drafted by Major League Soccer teams, while Hendrik Hebbeker was an All-American in 2021, Eliot Goldthorp in 2022, Carmichael, Goldthorp, and Pierce Infuso in 2023, and Laurie Goddard in 2025. 

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Roche has also served as head coach of the Long Island Rough Riders in USL2 and is the organizations sporting director.

As a player, Roche competed professionally with the University College Dublin Football Club in the League of Ireland Premier division from January 2009 through November 2010. He joined FC New York of the United Soccer League in 2011. 

Roche holds a bachelor’s degree in retail and services management from Dublin Institute of Technology. He also owns a National Diploma and an Advanced National Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches and a USSF 'D' license. 

Roche and his wife, Jess, have two sons, Jack and Leo.