Trip Couch was hired as an assistant coach by Arizona Baseball and head coach Chip Hale on July 15, 2021. He enters his fourth season with the Wildcats in 2025.
"I am thrilled to add Trip Couch, an experienced college coach and praised national recruiter, to our coaching staff," Hale said at the time of his hiring. "It was crucial we add a relentless and successful recruiter to further the goals of the program we're building, and coach Couch is the perfect person to fill that role. He will make an immediate impact on our current student-athletes and add to our roster by attracting the top talent in the country to join us in Tucson. With the addition of coach Couch, we are building a world-class coaching staff that will help us develop successful players and a championship culture."
With the Wildcats
Couch boasts three seasons and three trips to the NCAA Tournament in his time with Arizona. Under his leadership two players have gone on to earn first round MLB Draft selections and three position players have earned All-America honors. In addition to national accolades, the Couch coached Wildcats have seen nine position players earn Pac-12 All-Conference honors, including four outfielders.
Arizona's 2024 season was an unqualified success, as the Wildcats took what was assumed by outsiders to be a rebuilding year (picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll) and eventually hauled in the Pac-12 regular season & tournament championships while earning a host bid for an NCAA Regional. Couch's prior recruiting classes were largely to credit for the surprising season, with All-Conference pitcher Jackson Kent and outfielder Brendan Summerhill playing large roles in the team's success.
Summerhill, an everyday fixture in the 2024 Wildcats outfield, became the fourth outfielder in three years under Couch's guidance to pick up All-Conference honors. The Chicago native led the Wildcats with a .324 batting average, drove in 59 runs, and notched a pair of crucial walk-off hits including one that clinched Arizona's sixth Pac-12 regular season title.
Couch's 2024 signing class was another talented and diverse group of future Wildcats. The '24 class featured four of Arizona's top 12 prep players, four Perfect Game National Showcase participants, four Area Code Games participants, and more. Three players in the 2024 class were ranked among the top 150 players in the nation, according to Perfect Game.
The 2023 season saw continued success from the Wildcats outfield defense, with Chase Davis, Mac Bingham, and a rotation of right fielders combining to contribute stellar defensive numbers and 10 outfield assists. Davis, the team's everyday starting left fielder, logged five outfield assists, the most by a Wildcat outfielder since 2012.
Following spectacular performances under the guidance of coach Couch, Davis and Bingham both earned a spot on the 2023 Pac-12 All-Conference team, marking the first time since 2012 that two Wildcat outfielders earned All-Conference honors in the same year.
His efforts as the program's recruiting coordinator reeled in another quality group in the 2023 signing class, a cohort that included 10 players ranked in the Perfect Game Top 500 and three who participated in the Area Code Games.
Couch helped steer the 2022 Wildcats to their 41st NCAA Tournament appearance and a 39-25 record that included a winning mark of 17-15 in Pac-12 play. Two positions players under his guidance earned selections in the 2022 MLB Draft: first round pick Daniel Susac and Tanner O'Tremba.
The Wildcats outfield defense, with coaching from Couch, was a bright spot for the team all season long. Regular starters Chase Davis, Mac Bingham, and O'Tremba all posted impressive fielding percentages and combined for six outfield assists.
Couch was also instrumental in building the Wildcats 2022 recruiting class, the program's first under head coach Chip Hale. Arizona's '22 class included four Perfect Game top 10 players from the state of Arizona, seven Area Code Games participants, and three Perfect Game National Showcase participants.
Before Arizona
Coach Couch joined the Wildcats following a four-year stint at South Carolina, where he served as the Gamecocks assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. While in Columbia he helped the program advance to the postseason twice in 2018 and 2021, including a run to the final game of an NCAA Super Regional in 2018.
As the Gamecocks recruiting coordinator, Couch helped build the program's 2020 recruiting class that earned consensus Top 10 praise and a No. 4 national ranking from Perfect Game. Among the standout players developed by Couch at South Carolina is two-time All-American and 2021 Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist, Wes Clarke. During his tenure in Columbia, the Gamecocks had nine players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
"I am privileged to join a historic program here at Arizona Baseball," Couch said. "I met coach Hale at Hi Corbett Field in 1999 with USA Baseball and had the privilege to work alongside some legendary Wildcats in Jerry Kindall, Jim Wing, and Bill Kinneberg. This is a tremendous opportunity for me to return to the Tucson community and build on the legacy those men left for us. We are ready to get to work building a successful, sustainable program with the goal of developing champions on the field and off. Tucson is a destination for baseball, and I am excited to hit the recruiting trail with that message and the Block A on my chest. With the help of coach Hale and coach Lawn I know this staff can make Omaha a regular destination for the Wildcats."
Prior to his time with South Carolina, coach Couch spent seven seasons at Houston in his second stint with the Cougars. From 2011-17 he helped guide Houston to two AAC Championships, three NCAA Regional appearances, two of which the program hosted, and one trip to an NCAA Super Regional in 2014. Couch worked with the Cougars outfielders and catchers while assisting head coach Todd Whiting with the coordination of the offense.
Under his direction, the Cougars produced a pair of All-American position players, including utility player Jake Scheiner, who was honored as the program's first consensus All-American since 2006. Houston also picked up three Freshman All-Americans and 19 All-Conference honorees, and one AAC Player of the Year with coach Couch's guidance.
In addition to his first stint with Houston from 1995-2000, Couch has also served as an assistant coach with Texas (2001) and Louisiana-Lafayette (1991-92).
Throughout his coaching career he has made 14 NCAA Regional appearances, three NCAA Super Regional appearances, guided players to 15 All-America selections, and developed 42 position players who went on to become MLB Draft picks.
Prior to joining the UH staff in 1995, Couch served as the marketing and promotions coordinator for the Cougar baseball and football programs in 1994. He also served as a student assistant and bullpen catcher for the Cougars from 1987-1990. Couch was a member of the Team USA coaching staff in 1999.
He is a 1991 graduate of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Restaurant Administration.
Coach Couch is joined in Tucson by his wife, Tiffany. They have two children, Chandler Gray and Kendall Blair.
Trip Couch Coaching History
- 2022-current: Arizona, Assistant Coach
- 2018-21: South Carolina, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- 2011-17: Houston, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- 2002-10: MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, Scout
- 2001: Texas, Assistant Coach
- 1995-2000: Houston, Assistant Coach
- 1991-92: Louisiana-Lafayette, Assistant Coach
Trip Couch Career Highlights
- 14 NCAA Regional appearances
- 3 NCAA Super Regional appearances
- Led position players to 15 All-America selections
- Coached 42 position players who became MLB Draft selections
NCAA Postseason History
- 2024 NCAA Regional (Arizona)
- 2023 NCAA Regional (Arizona)
- 2022 NCAA Regional (Arizona)
- 2021 NCAA Regional (South Carolina)
- 2018 NCAA Super Regional (South Carolina)
- 2018 NCAA Regional (South Carolina)
- 2017 NCAA Regional (Houston)
- 2015 NCAA Regional (Houston)
- 2014 NCAA Super Regional (Houston)
- 2014 NCAA Regional (Houston)
- 2001 NCAA Regional (Texas)
- 2000 NCAA Super Regional (Houston)
- 2000 NCAA Regional (Houston)
- 1999 NCAA Regional (Houston)
- 1997 NCAA Regional (Houston)
- 1992 NCAA Regional (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- 1991 NCAA Regional (Louisiana-Lafayette)
*Last updated: 6/28/2024
