In the series pilot, Hayden becomes suspicions when he learns that his daughter Kelly is returning to Minnesota to attend Minnesota State college where he serves as the head coach of the Minnesota State Screaming Eagles football team. Is Kelly really interested in the college curriculum or in getting Hayden to become a father to her after so many years of being absent from her life? Kelly's return awakens Hayden's paternal instincts, disrupting his relationship with his new girlfriend, news reporter Christine Armstrong.
Kelly tells Hayden she had a date with a faculty member, and he wants to know who.
Christine demands Hayden be truthful with Kelly about their relationship.
Hayden detests Kelly's new boyfriend.
A losing streak makes Hayden unpleasant company for Christine.
Hayden suspends Luther for 30 days for gambling when he bets against the team and wins a steak at the Touchdown Club; but Luther think he has been fired, and takes another job.
Hayden plans a quiet birthday celebration for Kelly, who invites Stuart.
Christine is seized by an uncontrollable urge to get a look at Hayden's ex-wife, who's come up for Parents' Weekend.
Hayden consoles a wealthy alumnus' widow to secure a substantial donation.
Hayden feels threatened when Christine dates another.
Although Hayden needs a victory in his last game for a winning season, he may be forced to bench his star player for skipping practice.
The poetry of football is turned into ballet by Kelly's dance instructor, who envisions a pas de deux with technical advisor Hayden.
Anti-fun Riley Pringle of the Conduct Committee joins Hayden in supervising Dauber's season-ending party.
While Christine, a woman of culture, tries to understand the appeal of football, Hayden's staunch aversion to art brings out her inner linebacker.
Hayden's plan to get even with the women's basketball coach jeopardizes Dauber's romance with her.
Hayden accepts a dinner invitation from Kelly and her fiancé, Stuart. When the soon-to-be-wedded couple start bickering, Hayden enjoys the show.
In a last-ditch attempt to thwart Kelly's marriage to Stuart, Hayden does the mature, fatherly thing and runs away.
As the football season's pressure mounts, Hayden develops a hard-to-conceal facial tic before a nationwide television broadcast.
In an effort to play the matchmaker, Christine decides to set the serially single Luther up on a blind date with one of her friends.
Soon after settling into a long-awaited romantic getaway, Hayden and Christine are beset upon by Kelly and Stuart.
Luther takes a risk and invests in the Touchdown Club with Hayden's encouragement. But their friendship is put to the test when there's a break-in.
When Hayden secretly recruits a top quarterback, Christine blabs to a sportscaster.
Hayden plans a victory party for an anticipated award.
When Hayden objects to Kelly spending all her time in Wisconsin with her new family, Kelly forces her father to meet her in-laws.
Hayden meets his idols at a conference, but his dreams of swimming with the big fishes drown in a sea of anonymity.
Coach Watkins gets revenge on Hayden when he mans a booth at the college carnival.
Hayden believes the new president of Minnesota State is a woman with whom he once had a fling.
Hayden seeks Luther's companionship while Christine works on the weekend, and while she is away nearly destroys her apartment.
Hayden enrolls his team in the academic class he's been required to teach, and sets out to make it "the easiest history class in history."
Hayden loses Luther's prized bird while the assistant coach vacations.
Hayden is pleased when Kelly volunteers to fill in for his vacationing secretary.
When Hayden refuses to accompany Christine to the opera, she asks her old flame, and a predictably jealous Hayden follows them in disguise.
Hayden impresses Judy's parents when he saves their pet poodle.
Hayden, ecstatic about his team being ranked top-20 for the first time, meets Christine's mother, then is shattered when his star player Bo is hurt and put on the injured list.
When Hayden has to miss a game because of a bad tooth, Luther must coach via phone instructions from him.
Hayden gets jealous when the university president woos a basketball coach from Boston with promises of grandiose perks.
Hayden reluctantly allows archrival Watkins to sit in on his poker night.
Hayden promises to stay with a bedridden Christine, rather than attend a long-awaited team victory celebration.
Hayden and Luther get stranded out of town the night Hayden is to escort Christine to an awards banquet in her honor.
Hayden forsakes football with the guys to meet Christine's antique-dealer friend.
Even at a victory party, and with Elaine trying to seduce him, Hayden remains depressed over his breakup with Christine.
Christine wants all her belongings out of Hayden's house, and Luther might move in next door.
Irritable over his breakup with Christine, Hayden attends a self-help group.
Dateless for a charity ball, Hayden flashes back four years to when he first met Christine, at the same affair.
Grinch Hayden's ex-wife unexpectedly shows up at his holiday party with a gift idea that will make all his Christmases merry: she helps him decide to reunite with Christine.
When Dauber finally graduates after eight years, Hayden promotes him to full-time coach, and their relationship changes.
Hayden concocts a wild tale to keep a promised $10 million donation from going to the basketball department instead.
Christine persuades Luther to have lunch with the reconciling best friend who stole his girl 37 years ago.
When Luther's old friend steals his girlfriend again, Hayden and Peter try to spare Luther's feelings by hiding the fact.
Hayden tries to discourage a scrawny, unpopular student who wants to try out for the football team, and Christine schools him in the art of gaining popularity.
Whiny, well-meaning Stuart nearly drives Hayden to murder on a ski trip with Christine and Kelly.
On his first trip to Las Vegas, athletic director Howard wants to sow some wild oats.
When Hayden discovers Christine's salary dwarfs his own, he decides to make extra cash as a spokesperson for an athletic supporter company.
Hayden reunites Luther and his long-lost father.
Cash-poor Hayden buys Christine's engagement ring from a cut-rate jeweler/dentist.
Hayden's photograph appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated after his team is ranked in the top 20.
Hayden tries to console Kelly, who would rather tell it to Christine.
Hayden pressures Kelly to date his star player, whom she finds very attractive -- until he tells her he is gay.
Hayden grudgingly agrees to go house hunting with Christine, then buys a house without consulting her.
Hayden receives an oddball inheritance from an acquaintance.
Hayden and Luther spend an excruciating trip snowbound in a cramped train compartment after Luther trades in their plane tickets following a dream about an air crash.
Hayden regrets his honesty when he tells Christine he hates her friend.
The call of the loon forebodes more than Hayden expected when he agrees to speak at Burleigh's Fraternal Order of the Loon.
Hayden is beaten before he plays his first bowl game when he learns the opposing coach is his former mentor.
Hayden halts pre-game hoopla after a star player is injured in a bizarre limo accident.
Hayden sells Luther his old truck which soon breaks down, so Luther contacts a local news program to do a piece on Hayden in order to embarrass him. After cooler heads prevail, Luther and Coach race to get back the tape before it airs.
Hayden vies with Watkins for a benefactor's favor and her donations by leading an exercise class for seniors.
Hayden reveals secrets about his ex-wife Beth when her new fiancé (Jansen) asks him for advice.
A careless comment results in a food fight when Dauber moves into Luther's apartment building.
Kelly is the one surprised at Grandpa Rosebrock's 90th birthday party when Stuart arrives with his new girlfriend.
When an arrogant chauvinist millionaire insults his girlfriend in public, Hayden and Christine come to her defense.
After a one-night stand with Hayden's 60-year-old secretary, Luther is too ashamed to face her the next morning.
Christine sells Hayden's Johnny Unitas-autographed football shoes; Luther catches the biggest pike in the lake only to lose it.
Kelly falls for a correspondent stationed in Bangkok; Luther is upset because he thinks he's shrinking.
A network job offer poses Christine a dilemma: to stay in Minnesota with Hayden or move to New York.
Hayden and Christine have conflicting commitments when a network premiere party is scheduled the same night as Hayden's sports banquet, at which he hopes to receive the coveted Curly O'Brien award. Out of the confusion arise a pair of resolutions: Christine decides to stay in Minnesota, while Hayden decides to move to New York to be with Christine.
The stress of a long-distance relationship troubles Hayden; Luther and Dauber refinish Hayden's game-room floor. Finally the Hayden-Christine problem is resolved when she loses her network job and returns to Minnesota.
Hayden wins his first football game of the year and proposes to Christine on his new live television show.
Dauber's relationship with his girlfriend Judy is threatened when he becomes a Big Brother to an 8-year-old.
Hayden hires Kelly's roommate to act as his daughter when Kelly refuses to attend his Father of the Year banquet.
Luther complains to Hayden about the lack of recognition for his contribution to the team's success -- then must face the media when the team loses.
Howard's wife Shirley comes to work in the athletic department as his temporary secretary and drives him crazy; Luther and Dauber fight to keep their favorite cereal alive.
Hayden's enthusiasm for fund-raising threatens Luther's romance with wealthy widow Mrs. Rizzendough.
Luther reveals his true opinion of Christine following a close brush with death.
Johnny Unitas, Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith upset Luther when they host Hayden's bachelor party.
Christine's plans for a perfect wedding go from bad to worse after Luther sets her wedding dress on fire.
Hayden and Christine marry in her childhood home.
Hayden's team plays in the Patriot Bowl under horrendous conditions.
Hayden's and Dauber's gifts to the women in their lives accidentally get switched -- and Judy thinks Dauber is proposing to her when she unwraps Christine's ring.
Hayden is set to star in a coffee commercial with Christine, but his part is recast; Luther decides to write a screenplay.
Hayden tries to restrain his jealousy over Christine's on-air romance with her new co-star in the coffee commercial.
Hayden is thrilled when Kelly receives a large check from her ex-husband, until he learns her plans for the money.
Hayden and Christine impulsively decide to get married while spending the weekend with Luther in Las Vegas.
Hayden and Christine are driven crazy when Howard and Shirley decide to become their best friends.
One of Hayden's former football players is forced into early retirement because of a surprising medical problem -- despite his very real knee injuries; the real reason is cancer.
Luther begins questioning the relationship when his romance with Lorraine heats up.
Judy threatens to quit coaching at Minnesota State when Hayden plays one last practical joke on her during an important ceremony.
Hayden tries to convince Christine that she does not need a face-lift to improve her chances in a job search.
Hayden attempts to recruit Tyler Roberts, the country's top high-school football player from Note Dame.
Hayden and Christine's third attempt to get married includes plans for a wedding in the woods in a church that's due for demolition.
Hayden is rattled as he tries to nurse his new team to victory, even as Christine announces she wants to have a baby.
Hayden stands up in court for Luther's defendant dog Quincy, who bit the MSU bandleader; Christine dozes during Hayden's advances.
Hayden's overactive ego has him convinced that Christine's success is not her own doing.
Luther and Hayden have vastly different views on the reasons for the team's success.
Kelly's desire to work in New York upsets Hayden.
Hayden and Dauber buy motorcycles.
Luther, feeling a bit lonely, befriends a boy (Smollett) in need of a father
Christine gingerly suggests that she and Hayden visit a fertility clinic.
Kelly, having taken a bite out of the Big Apple, comes home for Thanksgiving a changed woman -- one that Hayden doesn't particularly like.
The playbook falls into enemy hands on the eve of Hayden's biggest game.
On the day of the Pioneer Bowl, an accident puts Luther in the hospital with a concussion -- but the team wins the National Championship anyway.
Luther makes a nuisance of himself after tracing his family tree and learning of a large group of Van Dams living in the area.
Hayden is rattled when he and Christine agree to watch an infant for the weekend.
Luther is offered the job of head football coach at nearby small Aberdeen college.
Luther is embarrassed to confess his new job: managing a miniature golf course.
Hayden begins wearing a special device to increase his sperm count. As a Valentine's gift he goes on Christine's TV show, where his special device leaks on camera.
Kelly can't attend when Hayden goes to New York to receive the Coach of the Year award.
While Howard and Hayden are away at a conference, Shirley confides in Christine that she's become attracted to another man.
The Screaming Eagles try to recruit the nations top QB. The players father roomed with Haden in college. After a one on one conversation with the blue chips QB, the player admits he only plays ball to please his eager father whose own football dreams were crushed by an injury. Haden convinces to give the young perspective time to decide his own life direction.
Fed up with trying to increase his fertility, Hayden looks into getting a sperm donor -- quarterback Troy Aikman.
An old girlfriend's visit rekindles Dauber's feelings and jeopardizes his relationship with Judy.
Christine goes fishing with the guys and catches the biggest fish.
Hayden and Christine have lukewarm reactions to Luther's outrageously uninhibited date.
In this episode Judy and three of the other woman's coaches challenge Hayden, Dauber, Howard and Luther to a game of golf with the winner getting the best athletic parking spots. The only problem for the guys is that Luther is a terrible player, after some argument Hayden finally relents to give Luther a shot against the woman. The men are poised to win on a put by Hayden, but he misses.
On his 49th birthday, Hayden wants to drive a race car.
In this second of the two-part interview with Mary Hart, the show explores Hayden's relationships with the other significant people in his life (i.e. Luther, Dauber, Howard, and his daughter). This two-part series is essentially a greatest moments episode from the first six seasons.
This is an unusual greatest moments episode. The format is an interview with Hayden about his life and work at Minnesota State. In the first of this two part series Mary Hart interviews Hayden about the beginnings of his relationship with Christine. Another unusual part of this episode is its absence of a laugh track, leaving the jokes to push themselves.
Hayden gets an interview to coach an NFL team but is not told what team it is for.
Hayden gets an interview to coach an NFL team but is not told what team it is for.
Kelly introduces Hayden to a sports agent in New York who promises him a professional coaching job in time as long as he wins and does what she says.
Kelly introduces Hayden to a sports agent in New York who promises him a professional coaching job in time as long as he wins and does what she says.
The pressure from Hayden's new agent to win begins to mount prior to the first game of the season.
The pressure from Hayden's new agent to win begins to mount prior to the first game of the season.
Judy makes a horrible mistake while she was visiting Europe and Dauber is devastated by it.
Judy makes a horrible mistake while she was visiting Europe and Dauber is devastated by it.
Luther spends more time with Ruthanne and less with Hayden and he feels neglected.
Luther spends more time with Ruthanne and less with Hayden and he feels neglected.
Hayden and Christine want to have a baby but they can't so they begin to blame each other for it.
Hayden and Christine want to have a baby but they can't so they begin to blame each other for it.
Ruthanne asks Christine to attend her friend's bachelorette party, to which she agrees, despite Hayden's warnings.
Ruthanne asks Christine to attend her friend's bachelorette party, to which she agrees, despite Hayden's warnings.
Monica, Hayden's substitute agent turns out to be attractive according to Hayden, which is causing problems with their work.
Monica, Hayden's substitute agent turns out to be attractive according to Hayden, which is causing problems with their work.
Howard comes up with some extra funds for the football program. Hayden gladly accepts without knowing the money was stolen from smaller sports teams on campus.
Howard comes up with some extra funds for the football program. Hayden gladly accepts without knowing the money was stolen from smaller sports teams on campus.
Christine thinks that she is going to be replaced with a younger woman in Carter's acting class.
Christine thinks that she is going to be replaced with a younger woman in Carter's acting class.
Hayden becomes so blinded by the pressure to win that he asks a freshman cornerback to shut down one of the best receivers in the nation any way he can.
Hayden becomes so blinded by the pressure to win that he asks a freshman cornerback to shut down one of the best receivers in the nation any way he can.
Hayden struggles to juggle a bowl game and an offer from a professional football team as he feels he has changed too much since hiring an agent
Hayden struggles to juggle a bowl game and an offer from a professional football team as he feels he has changed too much since hiring an agent
Luther and Ruthanne work together and try to quit their addiction to junk food and smoking.
Luther and Ruthanne work together and try to quit their addiction to junk food and smoking.
Christine forces Hayden to go to a sleep clinic for snoring where Luther is currently visiting for the same issue.
Christine forces Hayden to go to a sleep clinic for snoring where Luther is currently visiting for the same issue.
Christine feels like Hayden and she aren't close anymore, so Christine signs them up for marriage counseling.
Christine feels like Hayden and she aren't close anymore, so Christine signs them up for marriage counseling.
Hayden drags Luther and Dauber on a recruiting trip across the world for a gifted kicker of goat heads.
Hayden drags Luther and Dauber on a recruiting trip across the world for a gifted kicker of goat heads.
Hayden is excited over a new defensive walk-on. However, no else seems too excited about the 46 year old walk-on.
Hayden is excited over a new defensive walk-on. However, no else seems too excited about the 46 year old walk-on.
Hayden asks Christine to hook Dauber up with a date for a massive group Valentine's day dinner.
Hayden asks Christine to hook Dauber up with a date for a massive group Valentine's day dinner.
Jimmy Johnson is in town signing autographs and Hayden insists Jimmy stay with him at his cabin. The night then turns into a disaster when Luther, Dauber, and Quincy come over to see Jimmy Johnson's Super Bowl ring.
Jimmy Johnson is in town signing autographs and Hayden insists Jimmy stay with him at his cabin. The night then turns into a disaster when Luther, Dauber, and Quincy come over to see Jimmy Johnson's Super Bowl ring.
Hayden is asked to be guest speaker for a charity featuring Luther's idol.
Hayden is asked to be guest speaker for a charity featuring Luther's idol.
Hayden plans a welcome party for Kelly and her new boyfriend from New York who, predictably, Hayden ends up hating.
Hayden plans a welcome party for Kelly and her new boyfriend from New York who, predictably, Hayden ends up hating.
Kelly's new boyfriend leaves town before the party after fighting with Kelly. Hayden still holds a party for Kelly upsetting her to the point she turns to a friend for comfort.
Kelly's new boyfriend leaves town before the party after fighting with Kelly. Hayden still holds a party for Kelly upsetting her to the point she turns to a friend for comfort.
Luther decides to go behind his agent (who is also his dentist)'s back and gets a job without him knowing and, at the same time, gets a bad cavity.
Luther decides to go behind his agent (who is also his dentist)'s back and gets a job without him knowing and, at the same time, gets a bad cavity.
Hayden and Christine join a cruise for a relaxing vacation only to find themselves badgered by a strange old lady who has an ironic secret.
Hayden and Christine join a cruise for a relaxing vacation only to find themselves badgered by a strange old lady who has an ironic secret.
After being offered an NFL head coaching job in Orlando by a mysterious widow named Doris, Hayden does some Investigating and discovers Doris knows nothing about football.
After being offered an NFL head coaching job in Orlando by a mysterious widow named Doris, Hayden does some Investigating and discovers Doris knows nothing about football.
