For more than 20 years, Ross Couch’s coaching career has been shaped by multiple others he has coached alongside of colleagues.
As a child, he saw first-hand the impact that a coach can have as the son of legendary GMC Prep coach and athletic director Garry Couch. Couch’s wife, Jamie, is a graduate of Jones County High School.
Now, Ross Couch has landed back close to where he and his family have strong roots as he was named the Jones County School System Director of Athletics earlier this month. Couch was officially introduced as part of a meet and greet event on Monday night prior to a scheduled Board of Education meeting. Couch comes aboard following former system athletic director Charles David, who announced his retirement in late July.
“It’s definitely been a whirlwind. It was a big process going through the interview process and seeing how their expectations matched up with my vision for athletics. It’s been exciting,” Couch said. “It’s kind of like coming back home for us, so to give back to the community that kind of made my wife who she is and has meant a lot to my family. It’s really big for us.”
A Milledgeville native, Couch also began his coaching career not far from Gray with early stops at GMC Prep and John Hancock Academy.
“We’ve been a lot of places, and I’ve been able to learn from a lot of great people. I’m excited to take what I have learned and bring that here,” Couch said.
Part of that, Couch says, feeds into his overall vision for the Jones County athletic program.
“The biggest point for us is to try and develop the whole child, the whole student-athlete. Winning is essential, but we have to win not just on the field but also with character development, academics, and whatever their next step is. And to make sure that development happens consistently.”
