Par for the Course: A Legacy of
Support & Success

A recent grad creates an endowment in honor of his coach to ensure opportunities for the men’s golf team.

By Emily Potts

Often, it’s the simple gestures that make a lasting impact—a smile from a stranger when you’re having a bad day; someone holding the door when you’re running late; or a friend checking in when you need it most. For John Stillman ’23, MBA ’24, it was several gestures from Bradley Men’s Golf Coach, Jeff Roche—big and small—that left an indelible mark. “Coach Roche gave me an opportunity to join Bradley as a walk-on. I was just looking for a shot out of high school and he believed in me when I was struggling to find opportunities,” Stillman explained.

Beyond the green, Roche was a guiding beacon to Stillman throughout his Bradley journey, encouraging him in his academic endeavors, and just making a point to check in often. “Coach Roche would always send text messages to wish me luck on a test, and he was the first to ask how it went afterward.”

This kind of encouragement and support made a lasting impact with Stillman, who received his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2023, then his MBA in 2024. He played on the golf team all five years,  qualifying for an additional year due to COVID. He earned an MVC Scholar-Athlete second-team recognition in the 2023-24 season and MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

He attributes his success to the support he received from faculty and staff, most notably his coach. “Coach Roche has been one of the most influential people in my life, not only as a golf coach, but beyond the course. In today’s NCAA landscape, funding is one of the most important pieces for teams to be competitive,” Stillman explained.

To honor Roche and ensure opportunities for future students on the men’s golf team, Stillman created the Jeff Roche Endowed Excellence Fund, committing $100,000 over the next five years. This fund is also a tribute to his parents’ legacy as fellow alumni. Michael ’91 and Denise Miarecki Stillman ’92 met at Bradley as residential advisors and were thrilled when John chose their alma mater.

“Bradley is special to my family, and it provided so many opportunities I wouldn’t have found at other schools. I’m forever grateful for my time there and how it has prepared me for my next chapter in life,” Stillman said.