The Bonds of Babson: Coaches

Writer

Scott Dietz

Scott Dietz is Babson College's Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. Dietz is responsible for the department's internal and external communications, including branding, campus engagement, marketing, social media, sponsorships and website management. Additional duties consist of event coverage, facilitation of interview requests, media pitching, video content, writing and editing. Before Babson, Dietz spent 13-plus years at fellow NEWMAC institution Wheaton College, worked for the NFL, New England Patriots, and in the media relations department with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. A native of South Park, PA, Dietz began his sports information career at Westminster College.

April 8, 2026

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Spring 2026

Feature
- - - The Bonds of Babson: Inside the No. 1 Alumni Network »
    - LinkedIn ranked Babson No. 1 for the strength of its alumni network, a landmark recognition for the College and its 46,000 alumni, who form a global community defined by its connections, entrepreneurial spirit, and willingness to lend a helping hand.
    - Read More
News, Notes, and Nods
Office Hours
- - - Network Support: Where Technology Meets Equity »
    - Assistant Professor of Information Systems Nada Hashmi studies collaboration and leadership while mentoring the next generation.
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People of Babson
- - - Christy Lagos ’98, MBA’20 on Keeping the Babson Alumni Connected »
    - As associate director for alumni affinity programs and annual giving, Christy Lagos ’98, MBA’20 works with student-athlete alumni, legacy families, and others to maintain their connections to Babson.
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Advancement Spotlight
- - - Regional Alumni Clubs Unite Babson’s Global Community »
    - More than 70 regional clubs around the world help keep Babson College’s alumni connected to one another and to the top-ranked strongest alumni network. Here’s how they do it.
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From The President
- - - Babson’s Alumni Network Is a Distinct Competitive Advantage »
    - Babson’s unique level of connectivity among alumni strengthens the College and extends its impact far beyond campus, writes President Stephen Spinelli MBA’92, PhD.
    - Read More
Parting Shots
More

The

Bonds

BaBSon

Coaches:

Joey Flannery ’17 and Tori Roche ’20

Joey Flannery ’17 is a Babson men’s basketball legend. The program’s all-time leading scorer, Flannery won multiple national player of the year awards while leading the Beavers to their first basketball national championship in 2017.

Likewise, Tori Roche ’20 is a Babson legend in her own right. A two-sport athlete, Roche was an integral part of several nationally ranked teams and championships during her playing career, including helping the field hockey team to its first NCAA Final Four and the softball team to its first NCAA Super Regional in her first year.

Now, both Flannery and Roche are back on campus as alumni coaches. Flannery is the associate head coach of the men’s basketball team, and Roche is the head coach of the softball team. It’s no secret why.

“This community is unlike any other,” Roche says. “I have bonds, friends, and resources for life. The true relationships are built because of the people and pride for the school. Everything is so intertwined.”

“This community is unlike any other. I have bonds, friends, and resources for life. The true relationships are built because of the people and pride for the school. Everything is so intertwined.”
— Tori Roche ’20

Tori Roche ’20 (left) and Joey Flannery ’17

Above: Tori Roche ’20 (left) and Joey Flannery ’17

Babson Athletics has a long history of alumni who stay or return as coaches. Currently, seven alumni serve on the coaching staffs of the College’s 23 varsity programs. No one knows better than them what it’s like to be a student-athlete at the top school for entrepreneurship.

“The student-athletes have a drive to be great in sports, life, and business,” Flannery says. “The coaches foster genuine relationships with their alumni, and that benefits the student-athletes.”

“Being an alum helps me relate to my student-athletes because I can share my story,” Roche says. “The ability to connect with people and have so many shared experiences makes it easier.”

The bonds that are formed among student-athlete alumni are unique and contribute to Babson’s ranking as the No. 1 strongest alumni network in the country.

“You don’t know how strong the alumni network is until you live it, experience it, and get a feel for being on campus and meeting the people who work here, and every person at Babson contributes to that,” Flannery says. “The alumni love Babson and what it’s done for them, and it’s what they learned in athletics that provides the motivation to want to give back.”

Now in the position of developing the next generation, Roche and Flannery take their responsibilities to their student-athletes and fellow alumni seriously—on and off the fields and courts.

Alumni Coaches

Jon Anderson ’75, P’04 ’08 ’13 ’13, head coach, men’s soccer
Joey Flannery ’17, associate head coach, men’s basketball
Meaghan (Merullo) Kerrigan ’17, assistant coach, softball
Nellie Pineault MBA’03, head coach, women’s soccer
Jamie Rice ’90, P’28 ’29, head coach, men’s ice hockey
Tori Roche ’20, head coach, softball
Brent Sitarski ’22, MBA’26, assistant coach, cross country and track & field

“One area I was pleasantly surprised about is the number of alumni who regularly reach out to me about internships and jobs,” Roche says. “They genuinely want to help assist our players with their companies and support them throughout the hiring process.”

“I try re-engaging those who have been away for a bit while continuing to develop the relationships with those who I know well,” Flannery says. “It’s great to share a bond with so many alumni with similar goals and interests.”

Babson Alumni Are…

The Babson alumni network is the strongest in the nation because of the unique bonds that connect them. In the Spring issue of Babson Magazine, we highlight nine examples that illustrate the varied types of relationships. Click the photos below to read each one.