‘Coach’ Reboot in the Works at NBC With ‘Modern Family’ Star Ty Burrell Eyed to Lead

Another beloved television comedy is getting pulled off the nostalgia shelf, and this time, NBC is looking to bring Coach back into the game. More than 25 years after the original sitcom ended, a reboot is officially in development with Modern Family favorite Ty Burrell attached as an executive producer and expected to star if the project moves forward.

But don't expect the exact same playbook. While the original series followed a college football coach with a personality that could test just about anybody's patience, the new version is switching sports entirely. Apparently, the television gods have decided that basketball deserves its own grumpy coach, too.

Ty Burrell Could Be Heading Back to the Sidelines

According to Deadline, the potential reboot will follow a legendary coach who returns to Minnesota to rebuild the basketball program at his alma mater while reconnecting with the community he once called home.

Burrell, best known for playing the lovable and spectacularly awkward Phil Dunphy on ABC's Modern Family, is expected to take on the leading role if NBC moves forward with the series. It's an interesting choice, particularly for fans accustomed to watching him stumble through elaborate parenting schemes and deliver some of television's most memorable dad jokes.

The project comes from Daniel and Matthew Libman, the creative duo behind Peacock's basketball comedy Mr. Throwback.

They'll write and executive produce alongside Burrell, with John Davis and John Fox also serving as executive producers. Universal Television is producing the project, which will use a single-camera format rather than the traditional multi-camera setup of the original series.

Remember the Original Coach?

Created by Barry Kemp, Coach originally aired on ABC from 1989 to 1997, running for nine seasons with Craig T. Nelson starring as Hayden Fox. The comedy followed the often-irritable football coach as he navigated his demanding career, relationships, and the lovable collection of personalities surrounding his team.

The original cast also included Jerry Van Dyke as Luther Van Dam, Bill Fagerbakke as Michael “Dauber” Dybinski, and Shelley Fabares as Christine Armstrong. Interestingly, this isn't the first time NBC has tried to bring Coach back. The network previously ordered a revival in 2015 that would have reunited Nelson with the character, but the project was ultimately scrapped before reaching audiences.

Whether this new version makes it across the finish line remains to be seen. NBC has not announced a series order, additional casting, or a premiere date, and there's no confirmation that Nelson or other original cast members will participate.

Still, putting Phil Dunphy himself in charge of a basketball team sounds like a pretty entertaining idea. Now we just need to find out whether Burrell's new coach will be as hilariously awkward as Phil or whether he's preparing to unleash his inner Hayden Fox.