Production Credits:
Executive producer: Barry Kemp
Co-executive producers: Craig T. Nelson, Mark Ganzel, Brad Johnson
Supervising producer: Joseph Staretski
Produced by Jay Kleckner
Producers: Ellen Sandler & Cindy Chupack
Co-producers: Tom J. Astle, Shari Tavey
Associate producer: Penny Segal
Story editor: Paul Redford
rc: John
When Christine and baby Timothy both become ill, an exhausted Hayden has too much to do while preparing for an important game.
b: 28 Sep 96 pc: K1701 w: Brad Johnson d: Jeff MeyerWhen Hayden passes on the chance to write a memoir of his failures with the Breakers, Luther makes a play for writing it himself -- without Hayden's involvement -- then discovers the topic is living with losing.
b: 5 Oct 96 pc: K1704 w: Mark Ganzel d: Craig T. Nelsonrc: John
When Doris brings in a gorgeous Brazilian soccer player to play kicker for the Breakers, Hayden is skeptical of his talent, while Luther becomes suspicious of his intentions towards Doris.
b: 12 Oct 96 pc: K1702 w: Frank Dungan & Michael Baser d: Ted Wassrc: Rosemary
Hayden's plans for an evening of dinner and dancing go awry when Christine resists leaving their baby at home.
b: 19 Oct 96 pc: K1706 w: Ellen Sandler & Cindy Chpack d: Jay Klecknerrc: Shirley
Hayden and Christine ask the Burleighs to become Tim's legal guardians, but the eccentric couple's enthusiasm causes the Foxes to reconsider their request.
b: 26 Oct 96 pc: K1703 w: Joseph Staretski d: Gary Shimokawarc: Gary
Dauber's fairy-tale romance with his new girlfriend (Nicastro) is jeopardized when he begins to suspect that Hayden doesn't approve.
b: 26 Oct 96 pc: K1707 w: Paul Redford d: Jeff Meyer NOTE: The series went on hiatus after this episode.When Luther and Doris plan to get married, Howard plans a huge televised half-time wedding for them during the Breakers vs. Niners game. Unfortunately, Luther's new obsession with Doris' money causes some problems.
b: 11 Dec 96 pc: K1705 w: ______________ d: ______________When Hayden and Christine made plans to celebrate Christmas in Minnesota, they never believed the Breakers had any chance of making it to the playoffs. But fate is with the team and it looks like Hayden will play the Bills in Buffalo instead of playing Santa to Tim on his first Christmas. Monday Night Football announcers Frank Gifford, Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf have cameos.
b: 18 Dec 96 pc: K1705 w: Ellen Sandler & Cindy Chupack d: Jeff MeyerOn their way to face the Buffalo Bills in a wild-card game, Luther's love of chicken wings saddles the Breakers with a severe case of food poisoning.
b: 20 Dec 96 pc: K1713 w: Brad Johnson d: James GardnerIn this very special episode which analogizes nine years of relationships between friends and family, Dauber believes he is contacted by aliens, and he considers leaving the Breakers, Orlando and Earth.
b: 8 Jan 97 pc: K1710 w: Barry Kemp & Craig T. Nelson d: Craig T. Nelsonrc: Shirley Burleigh
Howard and Shirley give Timothy a doll, but Luther feels the boy should have more masculine influences.
b: 22 Jan 97 pc: K1709 w: Ellen Sandler & Cindy Chupack d: Bill Fraleyrc: Rosemary
When Hayden's former gardener Kenny is fired by the Breakers, the guilt-ridden coach writes him a glowing job recommendation. But Hayden comes to regret that generosity when his words earn Kenny a job as his personal bodyguard.
b: 5 Feb 97 pc: _________ w: Mark Ganzel & Joseph Staretski d: Tony Dowrc: Judy Watkins
When Doris invites the whole gang to spend Valentine's Day weekend at a ski resort she's thinking about buying, Hayden helps Christine conquer her fear of the slopes. Meanwhile, Dauber runs into his ex-fiancée Judy, which stirs some unresolved feelings. The gang heads off to a ski resort, where Hayden and Christine go their separate ways after an argument and Dauber spends his time trying to hide from Judy after spotting her in a grocery store.
b: 12 Feb 97 pc: K1718 w: Ellen Sandler & Cindy Chupak d: Craig T. Nelsonrc: Shirley Burleigh
When Hayden, Luther, Dauber and Howard decide to celebrate "Man Week" in the Florida Everglades, Doris, Christine and Shirley decide to take a vacation of their own. Meanwhile, having allowed Luther to plan their trip, the men wind up in swamp mud with an alligator.
b: 19 Feb 97 pc: K1724 w: Tom J. Astle d: Jeff MeyerLuther plans to "invest" his life savings at an Elvis memorabilia auction in Las Vegas, but he gets into a heated bidding war with The Drew Carey Show's Mimi. In the end, Luther and Mimi go from bitter rivals to dance partners in a wild, Elvis-inspired dream sequence set to music.
b: 26 Feb 97 pc: K1719 w: Brad Johnson & Mark Ganzel d: Jay Kleckner NOTE: As part of ABC's Viva Las Vegas night, characters from the four shows airing this evening met each other in Las Vegas. In Grace Under Fire Grace becomes Drew's good luck charm at the craps table. In Coach, Mimi and Luther bid against each other for Elvis memorabilia. In The Drew Carey Show, Luther becomes Drew's bad luck charm at the craps table. In Ellen a dazed Spence asks Drew for help finding Caesar.Hayden recalls how Tim got his name as a result of the coach's mishap with a hospital clerk, which led to a baby-naming contest sponsored by an antagonistic sportswriter.
b: 12 Mar 97 pc: K1717 w: Tom J. Astle d: Tony Dowrc: John
As a reward for the Breakers' successful season, Doris gives the coaches a session with her psychic, but Luther is troubled by the woman's prediction and convinces himself that a defensive tackle Hayden's trying to sign is out to kill him.
b: 26 Mar 97 pc: K1716 w: Joseph Staretski d: Jeff MeyerHayden's insecurity gets the better of him when an obnoxious mother boasts that her baby girl -- who's just a few days older than Tim -- can already walk and talk. So the coach tries to bring Tim up to speed.
b: 2 Apr 97 pc: K1720 w: Joseph Staretski d: Jeff Meyerrc: Rosemary, Bill
Doris promotes Luther, leaving Hayden to find a new defensive coordinator, a job he thinks would be perfect for Dick Butkus -- until the former linebacker shows up and starts taking over.
b: 16 Apr 97 pc: K1721 w: Ellen Sandler & Cindy Chupak d: Gordon HuntSkeptical Hayden warns Christine not to trust the new neighbors.
b: 23 Apr 97 pc: _________ w: Mark Ganzel d: Jeff Meyerrc: Rosemary
In the first episode of the three-part series finale, Doris offers Hayden a 17-million-dollar package to stay with the Breakers for 10 years. When Hayden learns there are other teams in the league that want to lure him away, he and Christine plan to sneak off to the cabin to think things over
b: 7 May 97 pc: K1772 w: Joseph Staretski & Tom J. Astle d: Jay KlecknerHayden, Luther and Dauber return to Minnesota State, where they reminisce about their college-coaching years and see some familiar faces. Later, at the lake with Christine and Tim, Hayden shares his vision of the family's future -- an idea she quickly embraces.
b: 14 May 97 pc: K1723 w: Barry Kemp & Brad Johnson & Mark Ganzel d: Barry Kemp NOTE: The long-running sitcom sends in its final play. According to series creator and executive producer Barry Kemp,"It was 200 episodes, and I think (the cast and I) decided that it's always nice to leave a party before you're asked to leave."For Coach, that party ended tonight.
rc: Shirley Burleigh, Stuart
Hayden, Luther and Dauber return to Minnesota State, where they reminisce about their college-coaching years and see some familiar faces. Later, at the lake with Christine and Tim, Hayden shares his vision of the family's future -- an idea she quickly embraces.
b: 14 May 97 pc: K1724 w: Barry Kemp & Brad Johnson & Mark Ganzel d: Barry KempNOTE: The three guest stars appear in their recurring roles from another series produced by Barry Kemp, Newhart.
Thanks to Mark Sorri for clarifying 1st, 2nd and some 3rd season information, and Andrew Steinberg for updating many missing credits.
Episode summaries have been derived from TV Guide on-line listings.