7.4/1049 votes#1 - Sleepless in Orlando
Season 9 Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/1996
When Christine and baby Timothy both become ill, an exhausted Hayden has too much to do while preparing for an important game.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: N/A
8.2/1046 votes#2 - Just Short of the Goal
Season 9 Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/1996
When Hayden passes on the chance to write a memoir of his failures with the Breakers, Luther makes a play for writing it himself -- without Hayden's involvement -- then discovers the topic is living with losing.
Director: Craig T. Nelson
Writer: N/A
8.5/1043 votes#3 - Last Tango in Orlando
Season 9 Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/1996
When Doris brings in a gorgeous Brazilian soccer player to play kicker for the Breakers, Hayden is skeptical of his talent, while Luther becomes suspicious of his intentions towards Doris.
Director: Ted Wass
Writer: Frank Dungan
6.7/1053 votes#4 - Isn't It Romantic?
Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/1996
Hayden's plans for an evening of dinner and dancing go awry when Christine resists leaving their baby at home.
Director: Jay Kleckner
Writer: Cindy Chupack
7.9/1047 votes#5 - We Can Never Die
Season 9 Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/1996
Hayden and Christine ask the Burleighs to become Tim's legal guardians, but the eccentric couple's enthusiasm causes the Foxes to reconsider their request.
Director: Gary Shimokawa
Writer: N/A
8.3/1051 votes#6 - Grimmworld
Season 9 Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1996
Dauber's fairy-tale romance with his new girlfriend is jeopardized when he begins to suspect that Hayden doesn't approve.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: Paul Redford
8.0/1053 votes#7 - In the Money
Season 9 Episode 7 - Aired 12/11/1996
When Luther and Doris plan to get married, Howard plans a huge televised half-time wedding for them during the Breakers vs. Niners game. Unfortunately, Luther's new obsession with Doris' money causes some problems.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/1051 votes#8 - You Win Some, You Lose Some
Season 9 Episode 8 - Aired 12/18/1996
When Hayden and Christine made plans to celebrate Christmas in Minnesota, they never believed the Breakers had any chance of making it to the playoffs. But fate is with the team and it looks like Hayden will play the Bills in Buffalo instead of playing Santa to Tim on his first Christmas.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: Cindy Chupack
8.7/1055 votes#9 - Wings Over Buffalo
Season 9 Episode 9 - Aired 12/25/1996
On their way to face the Buffalo Bills in a wild-card game, Luther's love of chicken wings saddles the Breakers with a severe case of food poisoning.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1047 votes#10 - Somewhere Out There
Season 9 Episode 10 - Aired 1/8/1997
In this very special episode which analogizes nine years of relationships between friends and family, Dauber believes he is contacted by aliens, and he considers leaving the Breakers, Orlando and Earth.
Director: N/A
Writer: Barry Kemp
7.5/1047 votes#11 - A Boy and His Doll
Season 9 Episode 11 - Aired 1/22/1997
Howard and Shirley give Timothy a doll, but Luther feels the boy should have more masculine influences.
Director: N/A
Writer: Cindy Chupack
8.5/1047 votes#12 - The Body Gardener
Season 9 Episode 12 - Aired 2/5/1997
When Hayden's former gardener Kenny is fired by the Breakers, the guilt-ridden coach writes him a glowing job recommendation. But Hayden comes to regret that generosity when his words earn Kenny a job as his personal bodyguard.
Director: Tony Dow
Writer: N/A
7.2/1051 votes#13 - To Ski or Not to Ski
Season 9 Episode 13 - Aired 2/12/1997
When Doris invites the whole gang to spend Valentine's Day weekend at a ski resort she's thinking about buying, Hayden helps Christine conquer her fear of the slopes. Meanwhile, Dauber runs into his ex-fiancée Judy, which stirs some unresolved feelings. The gang heads off to a ski resort, where Hayden and Christine go their separate ways after an argument and Dauber spends his time trying to hide from Judy after spotting her in a grocery store.
Director: Craig T. Nelson
Writer: Cindy Chupack
8.1/1049 votes#14 - It's a Swamp Thing
Season 9 Episode 14 - Aired 2/19/1997
When Hayden, Luther, Dauber and Howard decide to celebrate "Man Week" in the Florida Everglades, Doris, Christine and Shirley decide to take a vacation of their own. Meanwhile, having allowed Luther to plan their trip, the men wind up in swamp mud with an alligator.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: Tom J. Astle
7.2/1060 votes#15 - Viva Las Ratings
Season 9 Episode 15 - Aired 2/26/1997
Luther plans to "invest" his life savings at an Elvis memorabilia auction in Las Vegas, but he gets into a heated bidding war with The Drew Carey Show's Mimi. In the end, Luther and Mimi go from bitter rivals to dance partners in a wild, Elvis-inspired dream sequence set to music.
Director: Jay Kleckner
Writer: N/A
8.2/1045 votes#16 - A Fox By Any Other Name
Season 9 Episode 16 - Aired 3/12/1997
Hayden recalls how Tim got his name as a result of the coach's mishap with a hospital clerk, which led to a baby-naming contest sponsored by an antagonistic sportswriter.
Director: Tony Dow
Writer: Tom J. Astle
7.7/1049 votes#17 - The Stench of Death
Season 9 Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/1997
As a reward for the Breakers' successful season, Doris gives the coaches a session with her psychic, but Luther is troubled by the woman's prediction and convinces himself that a defensive tackle Hayden's trying to sign is out to kill him.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: N/A
8.4/1045 votes#18 - Baby Coaches
Season 9 Episode 18 - Aired 4/2/1997
Hayden's insecurity gets the better of him when an obnoxious mother boasts that her baby girl -- who's just a few days older than Tim -- can already walk and talk. So the coach tries to bring Tim up to speed.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: N/A
8.6/1047 votes#19 - Upsized
Season 9 Episode 19 - Aired 4/16/1997
Doris promotes Luther, leaving Hayden to find a new defensive coordinator, a job he thinks would be perfect for Dick Butkus -- until the former linebacker shows up and starts taking over.
Director: Gordon Hunt
Writer: Cindy Chupack
8.4/1046 votes#20 - The Neighbor Hood
Season 9 Episode 20 - Aired 4/23/1997
Skeptical Hayden warns Christine not to trust the new neighbors.
Director: Jeff Meyer
Writer: N/A
8.5/1046 votes#21 - Leaving Orlando (1)
Season 9 Episode 21 - Aired 5/7/1997
In the first episode of the three-part series finale, Doris offers Hayden a 17-million-dollar package to stay with the Breakers for 10 years. When Hayden learns there are other teams in the league that want to lure him away, he and Christine plan to sneak off to the cabin to think things over
Director: Jay Kleckner
Writer: Tom J. Astle
8.0/1049 votes#22 - Leaving Orlando (2)
Season 9 Episode 22 - Aired 5/14/1997
Hayden, Luther and Dauber return to Minnesota State, where they reminisce about their college-coaching years and see some familiar faces. Later, at the lake with Christine and Tim, Hayden shares his vision of the family's future -- an idea she quickly embraces.
Director: N/A
Writer: Barry Kemp
8.0/1055 votes#23 - Leaving Orlando (3)
Season 9 Episode 23 - Aired 5/14/1997
Hayden, Luther and Dauber return to Minnesota State, where they reminisce about their college-coaching years and see some familiar faces. Later, at the lake with Christine and Tim, Hayden shares his vision of the family's future—an idea she quickly embraces.
Director: N/A
Writer: Barry Kemp
The Best Episodes of Coach Season 9
Every episode of Coach Season 9 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Coach Season 9!
Hayden Fox, the curmudgeonly coach of Minnesota State University's Screaming Eagles football team, tries to navigate his way through the sports world, fatherhood and family...
Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC
Season 9 Ratings Summary
"Sleepless in Orlando" is the best rated episode of "Coach" season 9. It scored 7.4/10 based on 49 votes. Directed by Jeff Meyer and written by N/A, it aired on 9/28/1996. This episode is rated 0.8 points higher than the second-best, "Just Short of the Goal".