The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach, Athletic Performance - Baseball
- Phone:
- 512-232-5075
THE COUCH FILE
PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Full Name: Matthew Joseph Couch
- Born: Aug. 15, 1986
- Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
- Education: San Diego, 2009 (B.A. Communications); San Diego, 2018 (M.S. Global Leadership)
- Wife: Sophia
- Children: Carter (angel in heaven), Hudson
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- 2012-19: Assistant Dir., Athletic Performance, San Diego
- 2020-21.: Assistant HC, Athletic Performance, Texas
- 2022-Pres.: Associate HC, Athletic Performance, Texas
COACHING CERTIFICATIONS
- NSCA: Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- NSCA: Registered Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Precision Nutrition: Level 1
- CrossFit: Olympic Weightlifting
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- 2005-09: San Diego
Matt Couch enters his eighth season on staff with the University of Texas baseball program.
Over his career at San Diego (2012-19) and Texas (2020-Present), Couch has mentored two Golden Spikes Award winners, 11 Conference Players of the Year, 11 MLB players, 25 All-Americans, 81 pro players and 105 All-Conference honorees.
During time on The Forty Acres, the Longhorns have claimed three conference titles, competed in six consecutive NCAA Regionals, participated in four NCAA Super Regionals and advanced to the College World Series three times.
Under Couch's tutelage, Texas has notched the five highest home run totals in school history.
In 2022, the Longhorns smashed the program-record with 128 home runs, surpassing the 2010 squad that hit 81 homers. Texas tallied 112 blasts in 2024, 105 home runs in 2026, 91 round-trippers in 2023 and 85 jacks in 2025.
During that historic 2022 campaign, Ivan Melendez became the first Longhorn to earn the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award and swept the national player of the year accolades. Melendez hit a program-record 32 home runs, eclipsing Kyle Russell's Texas-record 28 homers in 2007 and Kris Bryant's BBCOR era mark of 31 blasts in 2013. Couch also coached Bryant in his Golden Spikes Award season at San Diego.
Prior to his tenure at Texas, Couch worked eight years in a similar role at his alma mater.
At San Diego, he helped guide the program to six seasons with 30 or more wins, qualifying for a pair of NCAA Tournaments. Additionally, Couch worked with the football, softball, men's soccer, women's soccer and men's crew teams.
Before beginning his coaching career, Couch was an accomplished student-athlete for the Toreros. He was a three-time All-West Coast Conference selection, who helped lead USD to three straight NCAA postseason appearances from 2006-08. In 65 appearances, including 44 starts, the right-hander compiled a 23-11 career record. Couch pitched more than 300 career innings, eclipsing the 100-inning mark in two different seasons. In 2007, he was named a Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star.
Couch graduated with a degree in communications from the University of San Diego in 2009 and later received a master's degree in global leadership from USD in 2018. He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach. Couch also holds certification from CrossFit in Olympic Weightlifting.
He and his wife, Sophia, have two sons, Carter (their angel in heaven) and Hudson.
