New Girl continues to garner interest six years of its conclusion. It focuses on the tumultuous life of a middle-school teacher Jess, who lives with three men following her breakup. However, fans were left confused by the inconsistent stints of one of the lead characters, Coach. So, why did Damon Wayans Jr.’s Coach leave and return to New Girl multiple times?
Here is everything you need to know about the character.
Why Coach kept leaving and returning to New Girl
Coach kept leaving and returning to the series due to Damon Wayans Jr.’s commitment to another show. As fans are aware, Coach was introduced as one of the leading characters in the show’s first installment. He was one of the three men alongside Nick and Schimdt with whom Jess starts sharing an apartment.
However, fans were left shocked when Coach did not appear in Season 2. His character was seemingly replaced by Winston Bishop, played by Lamorne Morris. There were numerous theories surging regarding Wayans’ disappearance given his pivotal role in the series’ first part.
Soon, the speculations were put to rest as Coach’s disappearance in part 2 was revealed to be due to another series titled Happy Endings. The show, which aired on ABC, featured Wayans in a key role. However, the series wasn’t expected to return with a second season. As a result, Wayans came on board for New Girl (via The Direct). But things changed when Happy Endings was renewed for Season 2 and Wayans left New Girl to join the former show.
Happy Endings ran for three seasons and eventually got canceled. Thus, Wayans made his way back to New Girl but in a guest appearance. Further, he was retained in the show’s main cast in Season 4.
However, Wayans left the series before the fifth season after refusing to renew his contract (via TV Line). His character’s journey came to an end as Coach decided to stay in New York with his new girlfriend May. Coach continued to make guest appearances till Season 7 where it is shown that he and May have shifted to North Carolina.