Coach was one of my favorite shows during the 90's. Craig T. Nelson was fantastic as Hayden Fox and the show had a great sense of humor. Now that was for the first six seasons where Coach knew how to continue to grow as a show. They had known that Stuart had worn out his welcome and replaced him, they knew that Kelly and her whiney child act had grown old and replaced her, and they knew that the focus was better when the show concentrated on the three coaches. Season 7, though, was the start of the decline of the show. Luther's character went from a bumbling Three Stooges type of caricature to a mean spirited, spoiled, self-centered character who was no longer funny or endearing. By season 8 the Luther was so spiteful and mean that I actually hated his character and that continued until the end of the show. Season 8 was a big mistake and the end of the show - even though it went another year - this was the beginning of the end. The entire NFL run made a mockery of the show that everyone had known and loved - it was so bad that ratings went down and it caused a beloved show to be cancelled. Nothing was good about seasons 8 and 9 - it made a fool out of Coach Fox, it continued the nastiness of Luther Van Damme and introduced the two worse characters in the entire 9 year run: Doris and Martine. Even getting rid of the ridiculous houseman Martine was too late to save the show. While Katherine Helmond was great in SOAP (and a bit in Who's the Boss), she was dreadful and annoying in Coach. A 10 for seasons 1-6, an 8 for season 7, a 3 for seasons 8 and 9.

This isn't my favorite show of all time but it's one of those I never forgot. The reason this show works is cause of the ensemble cast. Especially Craig T. nelson and Jerry Van Dyke.What makes this work is Craig T. Nelson. He's almost the "Archie Bunker" of the 90's...without the racial part. He's a Neanderthal type who thinks guys are the Kings and football guys rule all and women are all wrong. The fun part is, you get to see all his flaws. He's insecure and self conscious about his relationship with his girlfriend...basically he's like all guys. That's why this show works, cause he's like every guy.With every show there's a "Barney Fife" type character and in this show it's no different. Here you find, Jerry van Dyke. You can thank casting for putting him in this role cause it was a role of a lifetime. He plays the absolute bumbling old assistant football coach who is clueless about almost everything and is nuts about Elvis. Again, a lot of guys are like this so it's easy to see why this show last for 8 years. For reference on his character, watch the "Sweeties Cereal" episode.This show tries to show you the life of a football coach but it's really about a simple guy who happens to be a football coach who's a little outdated in his way of thinking. Trust me, watch this show and laugh. I always do.

COACH, the TV series about a Minnesota State University head football coach and the way he tries to use everyone around him, is a classic, and you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy the show. Most of the comedy stems from the lead man's villainous ways, and how they backfire at him. Yes, the coach is the bad guy, and that's what makes this so funny. He surrounds himself with dopey, old school, red neck assistants, but wait! These assistants know more about computers than he does. They are more understanding and tolerant of homosexuals, emotional actors, and successful women than he is. They are less red neck than he is. Get the picture? He keeps coming up with a semblance of being a respectable, informed leader, when all the time, he is the biggest bigot on the campus. And he always gets his come uppance. The supporting cast make this show, and Nelson is excellent as the "J R Ewing" of the group. Not enough can be said about the genius of Van Dyke and the others. The coach is always forced into situations he hates, such as having to get a dog to please a wealthy widow so he can get her to donate money to his program. All along, she knows he is an ogre, and she plays him for the sucker. And who saves the day for him? His dopey assistant, who really cares for the dog, who really has some dignity and integrity in him. Does "Coach" learn anything about "Integrity"? Yes, each episode. He learns that you keep have to try faking it better. Almost every show is a classic. I'm partial to the ones where he feuds with the tall woman's basketball coach, and where he tries unsuccessfully, to manipulate wealthy widows while assistant Van Dam (Van Dyke) will just be himself and outdo the coach each time.

My dad loves sports so he has got to like this TV series. It is about a college football coach who is always bothered. Every guest star is what made the show so funny. This show should have stayed on longer. Even the ending made it funny.