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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.