Credit to Taylor Griffin

Starting this school year, Matt Couch planned on only being the assistant coach for the varsity football team. As the year went on, Couch’s friend Tommy Moran, the head c-team baseball coach at FHN, convinced Couch to help him out with the freshman team. 

“I was very excited when he told me that he was going to coach,” Moran said. “It was already exciting that I was going to have another coach but I am even more thrilled that it is one of my buddies.” 

During the fall season, Couch led the offense on the boys varsity football team to a 3-7 record on the season and was the offensive coordinator. During the winter season, he worked with the girls basketball team twice a week in the mornings to help with strength and conditioning, so he was ready to add another sport to the list. In his high school career, Couch played baseball so he had experience. He always loved coaching but didn’t know if baseball was going to be the sport he was going to coach. 

“I understand how it all works and I have always loved baseball,” Couch said. “So, with enough convincing from Moran, I thought I might as well give it a shot.”

During his time at FHN, Couch started off as a hall monitor but knew he always wanted to work with kids. After a lot of work, Couch was offered a spot as a behavior support specialist. He took the job and was there for a couple of months before deciding to work on construction and pursue that career while still coaching at FHN on the side. 

“I loved when he was here at North and when I got to work with him,” hall monitor and basketball coach Danielle Rampley said. “He was always a joy to be around and was someone that a lot of kids and staff enjoyed.”

So far this season, Couch and Moran have led the Knights to a record of 10-16, with a big win against Fort Zumwalt West, taking down one of the top teams in the state with a score of 6-1. As the season goes on, the Knights want to continue to try and improve as players, and are excited to see where the season takes them. They are also thrilled to have a new coach and experience a new coaching style.

“I am glad that we have Coach Couch as a coach,” freshman Logan Vollmer says. “I like having him around and learning from him.”