$10 million Roach Foundation gift establishes institute dedicated to advancing the future of human performance research
| Texas Christian University today announced the launch of the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering, an interdisciplinary institute dedicated to advancing human performance research and invention that will transform how industrial, tactical and sports athletes train, perform and recover under pressure. Established through a $10 million gift from The Roach Foundation of Fort Worth announced earlier this year, the institute will serve as a hub for research, technology development and cross-disciplinary collaboration focused on helping people perform safely and effectively in demanding environments. “The creation of the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering, made possible by the generosity of The Roach Foundation and multigenerational support by the Roach, Bailey and Davis families, positions TCU on the leading edge of human performance research, producing outcomes that will deeply benefit our student-athletes and others in roles that extend health and safety beyond the playing field,” said TCU Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin. “The new institute has been developed by industry-leading experts, ensuring TCU maintains its place as an innovative leader among the nation’s power conference schools. TCU’s campus experience for students is the best in the country. We have seen record investment in our student-athletes’ health and wellness with donor-funded, state-of-the-art strength and recovery facilities that utilize technology and personal attention to improve and protect. TCU’s Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering brings these elements together to study, scale and replicate elite performance.” |
| The announcement of the new Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering was made by Chancellor Pullin during TCU’s inaugural Global Human Performance Forum, which convened researchers, industry leaders and practitioners to discuss and formulate cutting-edge research and invention. “Our investment in the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering will ensure that TCU continues to lead in both athletics and academics, advancing many of the bold goals outlined in TCU’s strategic plan,” said Amy Roach Bailey ’89, TCU trustee and chair of the board’s Academic Affairs Committee. “The institute brings these together in the name of research and discovery that will ultimately support the productivity and well-being of people in industry, military, emergency services and athletics. Above all, the new institute will enrich the student experience at TCU with more opportunities for meaningful applied research and discovery in a field that expands the boundaries of human performance for the betterment of our programs and society at large. “TCU’s interdisciplinary approach across academics and athletics, delivered in a values-based environment, has been an inspiration for our family for more than six decades. We have seen, firsthand, that higher education is transformational, and we are blessed to be able to continue investing in the future of TCU and in the future of TCU students,” she said. A New Home, the Next Era for Athlete Engineering TCU Vice Provost for Research Reuben F. Burch V, Ph.D., founded the field of Athlete Engineering by combining lessons learned from a career in athletics, corporate engineering and academic research. The discipline emerged from a simple but powerful idea: performance is shaped by more than the individual. It is influenced by the interaction between people, technology, environments, teams and systems. Athlete Engineering improves human performance in demanding environments by studying the entire performance ecosystem. While its roots are in athletics, the field also serves “tactical athletes,” such as military personnel and first responders, as well as industrial athletes working in physically demanding professions such as manufacturing, construction, transportation and logistics. Insights developed in one domain can improve outcomes in another, creating opportunities to enhance performance, safety, readiness and long-term well-being across multiple sectors. Burch spent more than a decade developing and advancing the discipline at Mississippi State University. His arrival at TCU in 2025 marked the next chapter in Athlete Engineering’s evolution. TCU’s unique culture of collaboration between athletics and academics, combined with its growing research enterprise, location in a top sports market and commitment to student success, position the university to become the national home for the field. Working alongside university leaders, faculty researchers, athletics administrators and industry partners, Burch established the foundation for what is now the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering. “Most universities have athletics, and many universities have research, but few intentionally bring those worlds together,” said Burch. “TCU is uniquely positioned to lead Athlete Engineering because we view athletes as people first and believe the lessons we learn through research can improve lives far beyond the playing field. The Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering gives us a platform to build partnerships, develop future scholars and create solutions that help people perform, recover and thrive.” Gift Creates Long-Term Platform for Innovation The institute is made possible through a philanthropic investment of $10 million from The Roach Foundation of Fort Worth, which will support research, faculty recruitment, student opportunities, industry partnerships and future growth. The gift advances TCU’s LEAD ON: Values in Action strategic plan by expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research, strengthening partnerships beyond the university and creating new pathways for students and faculty to address complex challenges through invention and discovery. Through the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering, TCU will bring together expertise from across disciplines to develop research-driven solutions with applications that extend well beyond campus. Roach Institute Names Leadership The institute will be led by a multidisciplinary team that brings together expertise across research, engineering, sport science and human performance. Jim Weinstein, Ph.D., RD, CSSD, FAND,will serve as director of the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering. Weinstein most recently served as deputy director of Athlete Engineering at Mississippi State University and retired as a colonel after a 28-year career in the U.S. Air Force. A nutrition scientist, board-certified sports dietitian and Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, he has dedicated his career to advancing human performance across military, athletic and research settings. |
| Joining Weinstein on the institute’s leadership team are: |
| Zachary M. Gillen, Ph.D., CPSSD, CSCSD, USAW-1,associate director of the Roach Institute of Athlete Engineering and associate professor of kinesiologySpencer Tatum, CSCS, TPI, FMS, USAW-1, athlete liaison consultantMichael Mydlo, M.S., CPSS, CSCS, USAW-1, performance science leadAnna Grace Dill, M.S., engineering research lead |
| Together, the leadership team brings expertise across engineering, performance science, research and elite athletics, creating a collaborative model designed to accelerate innovation and improve athlete performance from the laboratory to the field. |
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