NBC is pulling the plug on Coach.
Citing creative differences with the producers, the network has decided not to move forward with the project, which was picked up earlier this year with a thirteen episode straight-to-series order. The show, which was eyed for midseason, was envisioned as a follow up to the original ABC sitcom with Craig T. Nelson on board to reprise his role as Hayden Fox.
Penned and executive produced by Coach creator Barry Kemp, the revival is set in the present day and follows Hayden Fox (Nelson), who has since retired from coaching. Before long he is called back home to become assistant coach to his grown son who is the new head coach at an Ivy League school in Pennsylvania that is just starting up a new team. Universal Television is the studio. In addition to Craig T. Nelson, the cast also includes Andrew Ridings, Bill Fagerbakke, Malcolm Barrett and Morgan Smith.
Despite NBC’s decision not to move forward with Coach, the network’s sister studio remains high on the project and will be shopping the series to other networks and outlets. At this early stage the focus is on Netflix and ABC, but with a finished pilot episode and Craig T. Nelson on board as star and executive producer, Universal TV execs are hopeful that Coach will land at another network before the end of September.
