[1] Koch was born in Paris, Kentucky, and graduated from Bourbon County High School.

Koch graduated with no student debt, and paid his way through college by working as a farrier.

[2][3] In 2000, Koch served in the United States Marine Corps, and was deployed to Kosovo and Afghanistan.

[4] In 2004, Koch began his own thoroughbred operation out of his parent's farm while still working as a farrier.

In 2005, he co-founded Shawhan Place, a horse breeding and boarding farm located in Paris which he has co-owned ever since.