What happened to Coach in New Girl? Why Damon Wayans Jr. Kept Coming and Going in New Girl

May 2024 · 4 minute read

It is not uncommon for TV shows to switch out actors after the first few episodes, but New Girl did so immediately after the pilot, replacing Coach with Winston. 

Why did Coach leave New Girl, and why was Winston not in the premiere? The first significant mystery in the series, which debuted on Fox in 2011 and ended in 2018 after seven seasons, was Winston and Coach’s New Girl Swap. 

Following Jess (Zooey Deschanel), a bubbly teacher who moved into an apartment with only men to start over after a bad breakup, the series was created by Elizabeth Meriwether.

In this article, we will discuss what has happened to the coach in The New Girl.

Cast and where to watch New Girl?

New Girl is a Fox television sitcom that was first broadcast from September 20, 2011, to May 15, 2018, and was created by Elizabeth Meriwether and produced by 20th Century Fox Television. 

Since being added to Netflix, the program has grown in popularity and is now among the most-watched programs there.

You can watch all-new episodes of New Girl on Disney and Hotstar.

Who was the coach of the new girl?

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jess took a chance and responded to a Craigslist ad, but this decision was not always the best.

Jess met the three men who would grow to be some of her closest friends in this manner.

And with Nick, their relationship would grow much deeper than that. But Coach was one of those three roommates, and he had a very different story throughout the series than most of the other characters.

Personal trainer and formerly employed health educator Ernie “Coach” Tagliaboo, played by Damon Wayans Jr., lived with Schmidt and Nick.

When Jess was looking for a new home, the group interviewed her. She moved in with them in the first episode, but by the second, Coach had left and been replaced by Winston Bishop, a former basketball player. 

Coach and his girlfriend Malia moved in together, according to the explanation given on-screen.

Why did the coach come back and leave again?

Wayans simply opted out of any contract renewals because he had no other obligations at the time, keeping Coach out of the fun once more.

The creative team of New Girl left the door open for the coach’s return in upcoming episodes.  

Will producers find a new cast member?

Good question, but it is hard to answer this. The makers have not said a final goodbye to Coach.

They think that he might pop up again, depending on what Wayan’s situation is in the future.

Executive producer Liz Meriwether reportedly said, “We love Damon and are so lucky to have had him return for the past season and a half.” 

“We are working on crafting an exit for him that will leave the door open for many more returns.”

What happened to Coach in New Girl?

Coach told the fans that he had left the New Girl after episode 1, due to a clash of dates.

Due to his concurrent role as a cast member of the comedy series Happy Endings, Wayans had to leave New Girl.

Wayans joined the cast of New Girl even though he was anticipating its cancellation at the time.

He was forced to leave New Girl after just one episode because Happy Endings was picked up for a second season.

At the beginning of season 3 of the well-liked comedy series in 2013, which debuted a few months after ABC formally canceled Happy Endings after three seasons and the first Winston and Coach New Girl swap, Coach made a comeback.

One of the original occupants of the loft in New Girl was Damon Wayans Jr., but he moved out after the pilot.

After returning in season 3 and becoming a series regular in season 4, Wayans left once more.

The seven-season run of Elizabeth Meriwether’s New Girl, which debuted on Fox in 2011 and ended in 2018, was completed.

Both critics and viewers lauded the comedy of New Girl and the performances of the main cast, especially Max Greenfield, who was hailed as the season’s breakout star.

ncG1vNJzZmiolZq9tMPIs2Wcp51kwbd71qGYrWWYlr2xsc2em2asn2KwsK3CoWSipl2jsrh5xqKppWc%3D