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Rob Couhig
Couhig in 2009
Born
Robert Emmet Couhig Jr.

(1949-04-20) April 20, 1949 (age 76)
New Orleans, Lousiana
Alma mater
Organization(s)New Orleans Zephyrs (1993–2002)
New Orleans Gamblers (1997–2000)
Wycombe Wanderers (2019–2024)
Political partyRepublican

Robert Emmet Couhig Jr. (born April 20, 1949) is an American attorney and businessman, and former Congressional candidate. He is known for his ownership of sports teams, including the New Orleans Zephyrs (1993–2002), the New Orleans Gamblers (1997–2000), and Wycombe Wanderers (2019–2024), and his current purchase of Reading.

Early life and education

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Couhig was born at Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 20, 1949, to Robert Emmet Couhig (1916/1917–2014) and Marcelle Reese (died 1986), the owners of Asphodel Plantation.[1][2] He attended Jesuit High School and St Francisville High School before gaining his Bachelor of Science in International Economic Affairs from Georgetown University in 1971 on a scholarship. His Juris Doctor was obtained from Tulane University in 1975.[2][3]

Career

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Couhig is a founding partner of a legal firm.[3] He stood as a Republican candidate for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district in the 1980 United States House of Representatives elections, gaining 34.4% of the vote behind Lindy Boggs' 60.8%,[4] and was unsuccessful in his 1999 Louisiana's 1st congressional district special election campaign.[5]

Couhig unsuccessfully stood in the 2006 and 2010 New Orleans mayoral elections.[6]

Sports ownership

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Couhig was president of Minor League Baseball team the New Orleans Zephyrs from 1993–2002, and oversaw their 1995 relocation from Denver, Colorado, to New Orleans, Louisiana.[2][3]

Couhig bought USISL team the New Orleans Gamblers in 1997, renaming them New Orleans Storm the following year. After estimated losses of $1 million, the club folded in 2000.[7][8]

After an unsuccessful attempt to buy Yeovil Town in early 2019,[9][10] Couhig purchased a controlling 75% stake in League One club Wycombe Wanderers in October 2019.[11][12] Under Couhig, Wycombe gained promotion to the Championship for their 2020–21 season,[13] but were relegated to League One at the end of that season.[14] Couhig sold the club to Mikheil Lomtadze in May 2024.[15]

Couhig and business partner Todd Trosclair unsuccessfully attempted to buy League One club Reading from Dai Yongge in August 2024.[15] Reading's fanbase had been protesting Dai's ownership following relegation, staff redundancies, sale of players, and multiple instances of point deductions for late payments of HMRC bills.[15][16] During the negotiations, Couhig provided funding to the club. After the deal broke down, Couhig began litigation against Reading, stating that Dai breached exclusivity and defaulted on the loan and finance agreements.[17] In March 2025, Couhig said that the takeover attempt was "exhausting" but that he would still like a deal to be agreed.[18]

On May 3, the day of Reading's final game of their 2024–25 season, it was announced that Redwood Holdings Limited – a company of which Couhig and Trosclair are two directors – had agreed a sale in principle subject to "final legal technicalities".[a][7][20] The deal includes Dai's shares in the club, as well as the club's Select Car Leasing Stadium and their training facility.[21]

Other ventures

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Couhig presented a show on The New 99.5FM covering New Orleans' recovery and rebuilding.[2]

Personal life

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Couhig married Susan Mullins, with whom he has two sons. He married Missy Aleman in 2003.[2] His stepbrother is Sam A. LeBlanc III.[1]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ The purchase is expected to be finalised on May 8[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Robert Couhig Obituary". The Advocate. May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "From law and pest control to politics and baseball, Couhig's had a varied career". Western Daily Press. February 22, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Robert E. Couhig, Jr". Couhig Partners, LLC. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  4. ^ Marcus, Frances Frank (September 28, 1984). "REP. BOGGS, 68, FACING HER TOUGHEST CAREER CHALLENGE IN LOUISIANA PRIMARY". The New York Times. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  5. ^ Bierbauer, Charles (April 30, 1999). "Deep field for special House election in Louisiana - April 30, 1999". CNN. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  6. ^ Webster, Richard A. "Rob Couhig talking like a New Orleans mayoral candidate". New Orleans CityBusiness. Metairie: BridgeTower Media.
  7. ^ a b Vargas, Ramon Antonio (July 18, 2020). "Wycombe Wanderers become English soccer Cinderella under New Orleans lawyer Rob Couhig". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  8. ^ "Storm Suspends Operations for Now". Times-Picayune. New Orleans: Advance Publications. February 26, 2000.
  9. ^ Coates, David (December 23, 2021). "Rob Couhig talks about trying to buy Yeovil". Gloverscast. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  10. ^ "Yeovil Town: American investor Rob Couhig to take control". BBC Sport. February 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "Wycombe Wanderers takeover: Rob Couhig deal approved by Trust vote". BBC Sport. October 23, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  12. ^ Wanderers, Wycombe (June 7, 2024). "Rob Couhig steps down; Dan Rice appointed Interim Chairman". Wycombe Wanderers. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "Oxford United 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers: Chairboys promoted to Championship". BBC Sport. July 13, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Middlesbrough 0-3 Wycombe Wanderers: Chairboys' relegation confirmed despite win". BBC Sport. May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Slater, Matt (September 17, 2024). "Reading takeover stalls after breakdown in talks between Rob Couhig and owner Dai Yongge". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "Reading points deduction: Royals docked two more points over HMRC bill". BBC Sport. February 27, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "'The last stop': Prospective Reading buyer makes takeover claim ahead of deadline". Reading Chronicle. April 9, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Rob Couhig: American businessman still wants to buys Reading FC". BBC Sport. March 28, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "Reading fan 'can't stop smiling' after Rob Couhig deal struck". BBC News. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  20. ^ "Reading takeover: American businessman Rob Couhig agrees deal to end Dai Yongge era". BBC Sport. May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  21. ^ Moore, Henry (May 3, 2025). "Reading takeover deal agreed with former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig". LBC. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
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