John Crouch (photo via MMA Lab.com)

By Kelsey Mowatt

When you’re the head coach of a team that has many, many top tier fighters, chances are you’re going to have a very busy life. John Crouch wouldn’t have it any other way.

Crouch is the head coach for the MMA Lab’s Elite Team in Glendale, Arizona, which includes several well established vets like Efrain Escudero, John Moraga, Joe Riggs, Jon Tuck, Chris Gruetzemacher, Yaotzin Meza, Bryan Barberena and Benson Henderson, among others. In addition, the gym runs classes for the general public.

Recently Crouch appeared on Full Contact Fighter Radio, and he was asked about how he manages what most would view as a very hectic schedule:

“I haven’t been that busy honestly. We had a couple of injuries,” said Crouch. “John Moraga’s been recovering from some injuries, Bryan Barberena, like a bunch of guys, so I’ve actually had some time off which is nice.”

“We have what is kind of a mid-sized roster when you compare it to Jackson’s, or American Top Team, or whoever, those guys that have that many. That’s when it gets–there was a stretch there where it was really hard–but it’s been okay so far. I’ve been getting a lot of time at home, a lot of weekends at home…I think it’s going to pick up here a little bit, as we get into November and December, it looks like it’s going to be busy next year as well.”

This coming Saturday for example, Crouch will will watch team’s Henderson and Mike de la Torre fight Jorge Masvidal and Yui Chul Nam respectively at UFC Fight Night 79. The event will take place in Seoul, South Korea.

“It’s fun. I feel like I’m lucky to do what I do,” added the BJJ black belt. “It gets tough and you complain about it, but I get to work with a lot of great people and in exciting, dynamic situations where I get to learn a lot. I feel really blessed to do what I do.”