| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 24, 1927 Spring Green, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | September 3, 2023 (aged 95) Pullman, Washington, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1948–1951 | Black Hills State |
| Position(s) | End, back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1952–1953 | Hettinger HS (ND) |
| 1954–1956 | Dickinson HS (ND) |
| 1957–1961 | North Dakota (B) |
| 1962–1969 | Wyoming (OB/OC) |
| 1970–1971 | Wisconsin (OC) |
| 1972–1974 | Oakland Raiders (OB) |
| 1975–1976 | Green Bay Packers (OC) |
| 1977–1980 | Denver Broncos (OB) |
| 1987–1990 | Wyoming |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1986–1996 | Wyoming |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 35–15 (college) |
| Bowls | 0–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 WAC (1987–1988) | |
| Awards | |
| 2× WAC Coach of the Year (1987–1988) | |
Paul Louis Roach[1] (October 24, 1927 – September 3, 2023) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He was the head football coach of the Wyoming Cowboys from 1987 to 1990, also serving as the University of Wyoming's athletic director from 1986 to 1996.
A native of Spring Green, Wisconsin, Roach attended what is now Black Hills State University from 1948 to 1951, earning all-conference honors in football twice. After graduating, he began a coaching career, serving with high schools through 1956 before getting his first college position as an assistant for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux in 1957. After five seasons with the team, he served as an assistant with the Wyoming Cowboys from 1962 to 1969. He followed it with two years as the offensive coordinator of the Wisconsin Badgers before entering the professional ranks as an assistant with the Oakland Raiders in 1972. He served three years with the Raiders, then two years as offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and assisted the Denver Broncos from 1977 to 1980.
After several years out of coaching, Roach was named the athletic director of Wyoming in 1986 and one year later was chosen as their head football coach. He was head coach for four seasons with the Cowboys and led the team, which had compiled poor records in the past years, to several successful seasons, being named the Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1988, as well as a finalist for the National Coach of the Year award while bringing Wyoming to two straight league championships and two bowl game appearances. He retired after leading them to a third bowl game appearance in 1990, finishing with an overall record of 35–15, which ranks as one of the best winning percentages (.700) in team history.