The first episode was dedicated to the memory of John C. Chulay.
During the three-part finale, Hayden finds three people residing in his cabin: Larry, his brother Darryl, and his other brother Darryl from "Newhart" (1982). Barry Kemp (I) was the creator of both shows.
Christine reads a book called "How to fly-fish" by Dick Louden, who is the main character in "Newhart".
In the episode where Hayden and Christine go away for a weekend for marriage counseling, the exterior shots of where they stay is of the Waybury Inn in Vermont. This is another reference to Newhart, the inn was also the exterior for the Stratford Inn.
At the beginning of each episode, the phrase "'Coach' is filmed before a studio audience" is said by Shelley Fabares. For the "Pilot" episode, this phrase was spoken by Clare Carey.
When footage is shown of what is supposed to be Minnesota State football games, the actual footage used is of University of Minnesota games.
In the Pineapple Bowl, the Screaming Eagles play the Wranglers from Southern Texas (represented by a team with red W's on white helmets). In the Pioneer Bowl, the Screaming Eagles play a team from West Texas, also represented by red W's on white helmets. In both cases, the actual game footage was from University of Minnesota/University of Wisconsin football games played at the Metrodome.
Near the doorway entrance to the Coach's cabin is a pledge paddle from the fraternity Beta Theta Pi.
The "Coach" theme song was performed by the Iowa State University Cyclone Football "Varsity" Marching Band. The Iowa State band was the winner of a national contest for the right to play the piece for TV.
In the later episodes where Coach Fox is the head coach of the Orlando Breakers, the view of the stadium outside his office window is actually Milwaukee County Stadium.
When set in Minnesota, the outside shots of the campus, stadium, and office were filmed at the University of Iowa. The name of the main character, Hayden Fox, was in reference to longtime Iowa football coach, Hayden Fry.
