John Couture

About Me:

John is an educator and coach at heart. With his extensive background as a classroom teacher of many subjects and head coach of many sports, he has been able to put together clear, skills-based learning for athletes to help them bridge the gap between their performance and their potential. John attended Amherst College, was a 4-year starter on Varsity Baseball and named Rookie of the Year as well as MVP. He went on to play professional Independent League baseball. When his playing career ended, he coached a professional baseball team in Johnstown, PA in the historic Point Stadium. That is when his desire to help athletes reach their potential by developing their individual mental skills began. He created “Player Development Plans” for his team, which included data-driven assessments, action-plans, and evaluations for on-field performance of players. When the Cleveland Indians found out that he had started this process, they hired him to continue to grow what they had begun – an actual Sport Psychology department within their player development system. John became one of the first mental skills coaches in MLB. While working with MLB and MiLB players, John was able to refine methods of enhancing performance by developing sound, science-based routines which he taught the players during individual and group sessions, in and out of the season. Working with players from all over the world, with various backgrounds and perspectives, he was able to reach all players and help guide them towards a growth mindset and peak performance state. John’s research-based, mind-body model of Sport Psychology performance education was mentored by Dr. Roland Carlstedt with the American Board of Sport Psychology. John’s practical Sport Psychology education was mentored by Dr. Charlie Maher, professor at Rutgers University and Head Sport Psychologist with the now Cleveland Guardians. Both are leaders in their fields of expertise.

John has 12 years of experience as a science teacher at private Independent Schools and urban public schools. He has experienced many different learning styles and abilities. John has taught a wide range of socio-economic and culturally-diverse students. John is state-certified to teach science, along with a state-certification to coach all high school sports. He has been a head coach of many sports at the high school level: baseball, basketball, soccer, and ice hockey; and he coached baseball in college at his alma mater. Working as an educator has given him the unique perspective on how diverse athletes learn and best practices to teach.

John is currently the Director of Sport Psychology at The Kinkaid School in Houston, TX. He also runs his own mental skills consulting practice out of Total Garage Sports in Houston, TX. In addition to professional baseball players, John has worked with many men’s and women’s college and university teams, athletes, and coaches. He has also worked with professional, Olympic, and elite athletes of various sports, including: volleyball, field hockey, softball, lacrosse, golf, tennis, football, cross country, track and field, marathoners, basketball, wrestling, swimming, and soccer. John was voted into the Bristol (CT) Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Education

• Amherst College, BA, Psychology 1992
• Towson University, MA, Psychology, Coaching, Education 2000

Credentials

• Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC), Association of Applied Sport Psychology
• Certified Master Consultant of Sport Psychology, American Board of Sport Psychology
• State of Connecticut Board of Education, 034, Professional Educator Certification
• State of Connecticut Board of Education, 185, Coaching Permit
• International Olympic Committee, Various certifications

Experience

• The Kinkaid School, Houston, TX (2015-present), Director of Sport Psychology and Baseball Coach
• Bristol Central High School, Bristol, CT (2009-2014), Tenured Science Faculty and Advisor
• Lewis Mills High School, Burlington, CT (2014), Baseball Coach
• Avon Little League, Avon, CT (2005-2014), Board of Directors, All-Star Manager
• Burlington Bulldogs AAU Baseball, Burlington, CT (2012-2014), Head Coach and General Manager
• Valley Sport Centre, Simsbury, CT (2005-2014), Private Instructor/Consultant
• Avon Girls Travel Basketball, Avon, CT (2005-2014), Board of Directors and Head Coach
• Cleveland Indians Baseball Organization, Cleveland, OH (1999-2010), Mental Skills Coordinator
• Johnstown Johnnies Professional Baseball Team, Johnstown, PA (1998), Coach
• Gilman School, Baltimore, MD (1996-8), Science Faculty, Advisor, and Coach
• Avon Old Farms School, Avon, CT (1994-6), Science Faculty, Advisor, and Coach
• Amherst College Baseball, Amherst, MA (1994, 2004, 2009), Coach
• Couture Peak Performance, (1999-present), Owner/Consultant