Coach, whose real name is actually Ernie Tagliaboo, was introduced in the pilot episode of FOX’s hit comedy, New Girl. By episode two, Coach was nowhere to be found and Winston had moved in to replace him in the loft. Luckily for fans, Coach does reemerge in season three after a bad break-up that forces him to move back in with his best friends.
Throughout the entire series, Coach comes and goes, depending on his relationship status and work situation. Coach is great for a lot of reasons, but like every character on the show, there are also quite a few moments where Coach falls short. Sometimes we love him, sometimes we hate him, and sometimes we just feel sorry for him.
Sorry: Goes To Jess For Lady Advice
In their first one-on-one conversation, Coach approaches Jess needing some advice. Jess is the first platonic girlfriend Coach has had in a while and he opens up to her, telling Jess that he struggles talking to women and asking her for some advice on how to do better.
Seeing Coach admit where he falls short and want to do better is really heartfelt and viewers can’t help but feel a little sorry for how clueless Coach is when it comes to the opposite sex.
Hated: Doesn’t Remember Jess
When Coach comes back in season three, he doesn’t remember Jess at all. It’s insulting, not just to Jess and to her roommates, but to the viewers and fans who have fallen in love with Jess over the course of three seasons.
It’s hard to believe that Coach doesn’t remember the girl he was roommates with and even shared a couple of special moments together before he left abruptly, and it says a lot about who Coach is as a person and a friend.
Sorry: Tries To Train Nick
One of Coach’s best qualities is the way he cares for and wants to help his friends. He’s very motivating, which makes him a great personal trainer. Once back in the loft, Coach sees an opportunity to really help Nick now that Nick is in a relationship with Jess.
Coach wants to make sure Nick takes care of himself, not just so that he feels good, but so that he’s better for his relationship too. Nick is not an easy person to train and Coach really struggles to help his friend.
Hated: Made His Friends Go To A Strip Club
Coach returns to the loft after a breakup and Nick, Schmidt, and Winston prepare themselves for Coach’s classic break-up night out.
The boys know their broken-hearted friend will want to go out and get drunk to forget all his troubles and they want to support him, which means they all end up at a strip club on a Tuesday, where none of them want to be. Coach can’t see how miserable his friends are and selfishly makes them suck it up and stay out.
Sorry: Admits His Insecurities
Coach goes through a lot of phases while dealing with his break-up. Once Coach is over the initial heartaches, he decides to put himself back out in the dating pool.
He tells Schmidt that he’s scared and that his last break-up made him feel very insecure. It’s a touching, honest moment, and seeing Coach’s softer side makes viewers simultaneously fall in love with him and want to comfort him.
Hated: Dates Cece
This is probably the worst thing Coach does once he’s back in the loft. Coach asks Schmidt for permission, and Schmidt reluctantly gives Coach the go-ahead to ask Cece out on a date, even though he doesn’t initially remember meeting her in the pilot episode.
Cece agrees to a date and the two end up going to see a basketball game and they even make out after. Coach is just wasting his time though because all fans know that Schmidt and Cece are meant to be.
Sorry: Embarrassed In Front Of Cece
After their first date, Coach is trying really hard to play it cool in front of his new love interest, and it’s a constant struggle. A couple of days after their first date, Jess’s trouble-making sister, Abby comes to town and crashes in the loft.
The second she meets Coach she senses there’s something between him and Cece and she calls it out in front of everyone, including Cece’s ex and Coach’s friend, Schmidt, filling the room with incredibly awkward tension.
Hated: Shames Nick
For someone who seems to enjoy being in a relationship, Coach definitely also enjoys shaming his friends who are in relationships of their own.
When Coach finds out that Nick and Jess are seeing each other, he doesn’t hide how he feels about it and makes Nick feel like less of a man for being with Jess and taking her feelings into consideration before making a decision. Nick is trying to be a good boyfriend, but Coach quickly talks him out of that.
Sorry: Gets Interrupted
One of the perks to Coach’s job is getting to meet and work with beautiful women all the time. Coach is in the middle of asking one of his clients out on a date and it looks like she’s interested, until Winston shows up, interrupting the moment and ruining Coach’s entire plan.
Coach can’t seem to catch a break around his roommates. There always seems to be a friend in need and Coach is the one who is expected to help, putting his own needs aside for his friends.
Hated: Doesn’t Bond With Jess
Jess really wants to be friends with Coach and hates that he refers to her as his “friend’s girlfriend”. Jess tries everything to bond with Coach, she even pretends to like basketball to spend more time with him, but Coach is too focused on the game he’s watching to notice all the effort Jess is making.
Even when Jess tells Coach what her plan has been the whole time, he doesn’t seem to understand and it takes them a while to really get to know each other and become friends.
