NBC is dusting off one of its classic sitcoms for a modern makeover. The network has greenlit a reboot of Coach, the beloved '80s and '90s comedy that ran for nine seasons, and it's bringing in a Modern Family favorite to lead the charge.
Ty Burrell, who spent 11 seasons as Phil Dunphy on ABC's hit mockumentary, will star in the new single-camera take on Coach. According to Deadline, Burrell will play a legendary professional coach who returns to his alma mater in Minnesota to resurrect its struggling basketball program. It's a fresh twist on the original premise, which followed Craig T. Nelson's Hayden Fox as the head football coach at Minnesota State University.
The original Coach aired from 1989 to 1997 and became a staple of NBC's Must-See TV lineup. Alongside Nelson, the series starred Bill Fagerbakke as the lovable but dim special teams coach Michael "Dauber" Dybinski, Jerry Van Dyke as defensive coordinator Luther Van Dam, and Shelley Fabares as Christine Armstrong, a TV anchor who eventually married Fox. In its final two seasons, the show moved its setting to Orlando, Florida, where Fox took over an NFL expansion team.
This new iteration marks Burrell's first on-camera series regular role since Modern Family wrapped in 2020 after 250 episodes. In the years since, he's kept busy with voice work on animated shows like Duncanville and a guest spot on Rick and Morty. Now he's stepping back in front of the camera—and behind the scenes. Burrell will executive produce the reboot alongside Daniel and Matthew Libman, the creators of Peacock's short-lived basketball sitcom Mr. Throwback. John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment will also executive produce for Universal Television.
Revivals are having a moment across the TV landscape. Scrubs recently returned on ABC, while King of the Hill and Futurama have found new life on Hulu. NBC is also prepping a comeback for The Rockford Files later this season. And if you're a fan of reboots that stick around, you might want to check out how Hulu's Malcolm in the Middle reboot is still dominating streaming.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time Coach has been eyed for a comeback. In 2015, NBC ordered a 13-episode revival that would have reunited Nelson and Fagerbakke, with Hayden Fox coming out of retirement to coach alongside his son at an Ivy League school. The pilot was filmed, but the network ultimately passed on the project. This time around, the creative team is taking a different approach—swapping football for basketball and bringing in a new generation of talent to headline.
With Burrell's comedic chops and the enduring affection for the original series, the new Coach has the potential to score big with both nostalgic viewers and newcomers. There's no word yet on a premiere date or additional casting, but production is expected to ramp up soon. For more on the ever-evolving world of TV revivals, keep an eye on ShowtimeSpot.
