This Saturday, October 18th, the Newport Aquatic Center community will come together for one of our favorite annual traditions — the Off Da Couch Race, held in memory of Sam Couch III.
Sam wasn’t just a coach at NAC — he was a cornerstone. A pivotal part of youth paddling at the Newport Aquatic Center, Sam helped shape generations of athletes who now fill our outrigger, kayak, and rowing programs. Most NAC paddlers today have been coached, mentored, or inspired by Coach Sam in one way or another.
Sam grew up right here in Newport Beach — he was literally born in a VW bus on the PCH bridge — and spent his life connected to the water. He attended Newport Harbor High School, where he continued paddling and rowing all through his teenage years, setting the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion for the ocean and the NAC community.
Born with Cystic Fibrosis, Sam fought every single day with grit, humor, and heart. Excuses weren’t an option when you were around him. He lived decades beyond the average life expectancy for someone with CF — and he credited the ocean for that. The saltwater was his medicine, his motivation, and his home.
Sam taught us to love and respect the ocean, to see competition as an opportunity to grow, not just to win. He reminded us that NAC is stronger as a team than as individuals, and that if you weren’t having fun, you weren’t doing it right.
Sam was a legend. One of the very first coxswains at NAC, and one of the only athletes to have competed at the national level in every watercraft NAC offers — from rowing shells to surfskis, kayaks, and outriggers. His energy, laughter, and endless encouragement left a mark that will never fade.
While remembering Sam may stir up emotions, we choose to celebrate his life, his lessons, and his legacy. Sam taught us to keep going — together. To stay connected to each other and to the water that he loved so deeply.
So this Saturday, as we line up for the Off Da Couch Race, we’ll do it the way Sam would’ve wanted — with smiles, teamwork, and saltwater in the air.
Because that’s the NAC way.
That’s the Sam way.
