Early Life
Couture was born in Everett, Washington, to Ed and Sharan Couture. He wrestled at Alderwood Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, then moved on to Lynnwood High School, where he won a State Championship during his senior year in wrestling. He served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1988, attaining the rank of Sergeant in the 101st Airborne, where he "wrestled and did a little boxing." He coached at Oregon State University.
Upon discharge, Couture became a three-time Olympic team alternate (1988, 1992 and 1996), a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials, a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I All-American and a two-time NCAA Division I runner-up at Oklahoma State University. In 1992, he was the Division I runner up at 190 pounds, coming in second after Mark Kerr. He was working as a wrestling coach when he decided to compete in MMA.
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