Jefferson men’s soccer promotes assistant Jason Rocha to head coach

Jefferson men’s soccer looked in-house to find a successor for Ptah Myers, announcing last week the promotion of Jason Rocha to head coach.

Rocha was an assistant under Myers for the past five seasons and played at Philadelphia University/Thomas Jefferson University.

“There are really no words to describe the feeling! I am proud and honored to be named head coach of Jefferson,” Rocha said in a news release. “It’s been my home for nearly a decade. I have a unique opportunity to give back to the university that played such a significant role in shaping my life. There’s a deep sense of connection and pride in leading this team, knowing that I am contributing to its legacy and helping to shape the next generation of players.”

An FC Delco and Philly Futsal Academy alum, Rocha grew up in Huntington Valley and graduated from Lower Moreland High School. He had 30 goals and 14 assists in 71 games as a Ram from 2015-2018.

“We are fortunate to hire Coach Rocha ’18 as he is not only a graduate of Jefferson, but also a former player and assistant coach,” Assistant Vice President of Athletics Tom Shirley said in a news release. “Having been with us for so long and doing quality work at a high level, Jason was a clear cut choice and highly recommended by our hiring committee, which included members of the team.”

Myers was at the helm for 13 seasons but recently left to take a job as an assistant at Drexel University under first-year Dragons head coach David Castellanos.

Rocha is the 13th head coach in Jefferson men’s soccer history, which dates back to the founding of the program at what was then called Philadelphia Textile Institute in 1953.