Greg Couch, ’96, turned his Eastern Kentucky roots and standout EKU quarterback career into a global football journey and ultimately a successful role as founder and CEO of Meridian Wealth Management, all while continuing to give back to his home region.
Like many Kentuckians, Greg Couch, ’96, grew up playing basketball. He also competed on the Leslie County High School track and field team. But football was his favorite sport. In the 1980s, Couch watched as Joe Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowls. This fueled his dreams as a young, aspiring quarterback.
Couch developed into an all-state quarterback for the Leslie County Eagles. Following his junior season, Roy Kidd and assistant coach Joe Blankenship traveled to Hyden and offered Couch a scholarship to play football at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU).
Couch had never set foot on EKU’s campus, but he committed on the spot.
“It was one of the best memories I have as a young man, getting to play for Coach Kidd,” Couch said. “Even at the time I was playing, he was a legend in the game. I always felt honored to get to play for him.”
In the four years Couch played, EKU claimed two conference championships and went 29-3 versus conference competition. In 1996, Couch set EKU’s then-single season record for passing yards.
Despite all the wins and the accolades, Couch’s best memories at EKU came not from the field, but from his teammates.
“We loved watching Monday Night Football at Madison Garden,” Couch said. “And we had a dedicated football dorm, O’Donnell Hall. Coach Kidd required us all to be in there, instead of getting apartments. That’s really where you get to know each other, in the dorms. I just have a lot of good memories, and a lot of laughs, in that dorm.”
Couch majored in special education while at EKU and planned to be a college football coach once his playing days were over. However, playing football took him around the world, and he ended up on a different path.
After graduating from EKU, Couch went on to play professional football in Munich, Germany, then in Edmonton, Canada.
In 1999, his younger brother, Tim, was the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns. Couch moved to Cleveland to work with Tim and his agents, leading him to what he does now. Today, Couch is the founder and CEO of Meridian Wealth Management. The firm manages around $5 billion in assets and has offices in 11 cities across the country.
A proud native of Eastern Kentucky, Couch has been able to give back to his home region by serving on the board of Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
“It’s a great honor to serve on the board of ARH,” said Couch. “They’re really the economic engine of Eastern Kentucky, with 14 hospitals and more than 6,000 employees.”
Currently residing in Lexington, Couch still visits EKU to watch the next generation of EKU Football. For it was at EKU that Couch fulfilled his football dreams and set the foundation for a successful career and the opportunity to give back to his home region.
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