Mike Couchee

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Michael Eugene Couchee (born December 4, 1957 in San Jose, California) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and a current minor league pitching coach with the San Diego Padres.

Couchee was selected three times in baseball's amateur draft, but chose to attend college rather than sign on the first two occasions. He was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in 1976, the Minnesota Twins in 1978, and the San Diego Padres in 1980. He eventually appeared in only 8 games in relief for the Padres, all in 1983.

After his playing career ended, Couchee took up coaching, beginning with the Texas Rangers organization in 1986. He then spent 15 years as a coach with the California Angels where he earned a World Series ring in 2002. In 2003, Couchee rejoined the Padres as a pitching coach for their Class AAA Portland Beavers and also as minor league pitching coordinator.

Couchee, a 1976 graduate of Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, California, led the high school football team (the Wildcats) to the first undefeated season in the school's history. In 1980, Couchee received The President's Award as Most Valuable Player at the University of Southern California [1].