The extended Kansas football family is mourning the loss of one it’s own over the weekend.
According to the Lawrence Journal-World, and citing multiple people close to the Kansas football program, Jack Roche died in his hometown of Chicago late Saturday night after being hit by a car. Roche had just turned 21 in May. He was also scheduled to graduate from the university the same month next year.
Roche had spent the past couple of years as a student manager for the Jayhawks. Les Miles just completed his first season as the Kansas football head coach, and mourned the young man’s death in a tweet Sunday night.
“The KU football family is heartbroken to hear of the passing of Jack Roche,” the coach wrote. “Jack was a tremendous, hard-working young man who embodied what our program is all about. We will remember Jack and he will forever be a part of our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roches.”
Roche was beloved by players past and present as well.
“He always had a smile on his face and was genuinely one of the best people in the entire program,” ex-Jayhawk quarterback Carter Stanley said according to the Journal-World. “We’d talk every day, but I’d go in earlier than usual on Mondays and we’d share the results of our fantasy football teams from the day before, which usually gave me a chance to give him a hard time for being a Bears fan.”
Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to all of those impacted by Roche’s death.
