Coach Z

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{{charnav|Coach Z|cz|Marzipan|Bubs}}
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{{acharnav|cz}}
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[[Image:coach-z.png|thumb|right|200px|"You can't just rush into the score zone!"]]
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==Biography==
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{{Infobox Main Character|img=Very Newest Coach Z.PNG|imgalt=He has more than two problems.|domicile=Locker Room|voice=[[Matt Chapman]]|debut=Where My Hat Is At?|3Dimg=CoachZ3D.png|3Dalt="Hey, watch where y'er pointin' that 3D!"}}
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'''Coach Z''' is the "[[Wikipedia:Coach (sport)|coach]]" of Homestar Runner and the gang, though it is unclear just which sports he coaches.  He has a strong [[Wikipedia:Upper Midwest|Upper Midwestern]] [[Wikipedia:American English regional differences#North Central American English|accent]] which sometimes gets him into trouble. He almost never says anything negative to anyone, and he often offers more encouragement than is needed.  When giving advice, he almost always starts with the phrase "You can't just rush into the score zone", which by now has pretty much lost its meaning.  He wears a baseball cap and is famous for the large Z emblem around his waist, but nobody knows for sure whether his bright green color is his skin or a body suit (although the picture to the right might give a clue- apparently baby Coach Z is wearing footy pajamas).
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[[Image:Babycz.PNG|thumb|The craptain of the foortball torm!]]
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As Coach Z himself is not afraid to admit, he's got [[Spin 'n Say|more than two problems]]. Despite being a coach, he doesn't know what a basketball is, as indicated in [[secret recipes]]. It has been implied that he has a crush on [[Marzipan]], and he has on several occasions left inappropriate messages on [[Marzipan's Answering Machine|her answering machine]], including one occasion where he was drunk. (Further evidence of his drinking problem is his consumption of mouthwash in [[The Best Decemberween Ever]].) Additionally, he had to apologize to her in the [[Fall Float Parade]] for "inapprapriate" comments. He seems to frequently make jokes and references about pants, as seen in [[super powers]], [[lunch special]], [[secret recipes]] and [[A Folky Tale]].  In addition to his frequent mispronunciations, Coach Z also seems to have mental problems, as evidenced by the time he spent "talking to his parents" on a [[Disconnected Telephone|disconnected telephone]], and claiming to be a mother in [[garage sale]].  He has even stated on [[Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 8.0|one occasion]] that he sometimes "forgets what's real, and what's just in his head".  He also apparently has trouble managing his money, causing his electricity to be shut off each year.  He works with [[Homestar Runner]] and [[Bubs]] as the apparent local law enforcement in [[Free Country, USA]].
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'''Coach Z''' is the "{{w|Coach (sport)|coach}}" of the residents of [[Free Country, USA]], though it is unclear exactly which sports he coaches. While occasionally tiresome, and burdened with "more than two" socially awkward problems, he is always ready to offer encouragement and is rarely critical of anyone.  
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Coach Z is a fan of hip-hop and rap music, particularly the [[Wikipedia:Wu-Tang Clan|Wu-Tang Clan]]. He fancies himself a rapper as well: He released the single "[[These peoples try to fade me|These Peoples Try to Fade Me]]," which appeared on [[Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits]], and his solo album, entitled "The Z Is All Up Ins", features the smash hit "[[Hip Hop Dance]]."
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==Characterization==
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Coach Z can often be found at the [[gymnasium]] or [[race track]] (indeed, he seems to live in the accompanying [[locker room]]), providing vague coaching or similar involvement with various athletics. When giving advice, he tends to start with the phrase "You can't just rush into the score zone", which has lost its meaning through time. In addition to working as a coach, Coach Z works with [[Homestar Runner]] and [[Bubs]] as the apparent [[Strong Bad is in Jail Cartoon|local law enforcement]] in [[Free Country, USA]].  Coach Z is also the janitor at [[the office]] where Homestar and [[Strong Bad]] work.  He is paid on hourly wage and is clearly jealous that Strong Bad is paid on salary. He has also spent time [[Blubb-O's Commercial|dressed as the Blubb-O's Drive-Thru Whale]] mascot. Coach Z owns four [[Wikipedia:Tony Award|Tony awards]], suggesting that he may have a background in theater. Despite his numerous jobs, Coach Z has trouble managing his money, causing his electricity to be shut off each year.
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Coach Z is now apparently no longer as close to Bubs, as [[Fall Float Parade]] tells us.
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Coach Z is a fan of hip-hop and rap music, particularly the {{w|Wu-Tang Clan}}.  He fancies himself a rapper as well: He released the single "[[These Peoples Try to Fade Me]]", which appeared on [[Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits]], his solo album, entitled "The Z Is All Up Ins", features the smash hit "[[New Boots|Hip Hop Dance]]", and his own rap song, "[[Rap Song]]" (featuring [[Peacey P]] and [[Tenerence Love]]).  Although his usual rapping prowess consists mainly of "count[ing] to two over and over again", as explained in [[nightlife]], he once had a very successful career during his days in the [[Two-o Duo]]. More recent works such as "[[Loading Screens]]" and "[[Fish Eye Lens]]" may indicate that his rap skills are starting to improve.
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*'''Domicile:'''  [[Coach Z's Locker Room]]
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[[File:Sketchbook 07-23-2009.png|thumb|Over the hill?]]
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*'''Debut:''' "[[Where My Hat Is At?]]"
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Coach Z's [[Ages of Characters|age]] is somewhat ambiguous, though he typically is portrayed as older than characters like Strong Bad and Homestar: he appears to be grown up when Strong Bad was a kid in the email [[stand-up]] as well as appearing as an adult in 1974 in the 'toon [[Decemberween short shorts]]; in [[caffeine]], Strong Sad's slaps provoke him to cry out "I'm just an old man!"; in [[slumber party]], Strong Bad refers to him, [[Bubs]], and [[The King of Town]] as "older kids"; and while narrating an interaction between Coach Z and Bubs in [[narrator]], Strong Bad labels them both as "weird old men".
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*[[:Category:Coach Z Filmography|Complete Filmography]]
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<gallery>Image:coachzs Z.png|Coach Z's emblem
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Image:oldcoach.PNG|Youthful days
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Image:Coach Z- no hat.PNG|Hatless</gallery>
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== Character Video Transcript ==
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Coach Z and [[Bubs]] [[Bubs and Coach Z's Relationship|had a falling out]] at one point, as [[Fall Float Parade]] shows us; Bubs makes a "Coach Z, you jerk!" float for the parade, and Coach Z retaliates by saying "Serves him right, then" when [[Strong Mad]] steals [[Bubs Concession Stand|his concession stand]]. In the email [[narrator]], it was shown that they had made-up and returned to having boring conversations about [[Bubs's napkins]]. However, in [[Most In The Graveyard]], when it is implied that Coach Z fancies Bubs' sister, Bubs beats him up. In the same toon, it is also revealed that Coach Z and Bubs may actually be very distant cousins, although Bubs finds this hard to believe.
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''{'''Page Title''': Drop Down and Gimme 20!!}'' ''{'''Places:''' [[Coach Z's Locker Room]]}''
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'''COACH Z:''' ''{not quite looking at the camera lens, more looking at the person who is holding the camera}'' Is that thing on? ''{turns to the camera lens}'' Hey there, ho there! I'm the Coach! The Coach Z, I'd guess you'd call me. Or plain old Coach is fine, seein' as I'm the only one around, so, probably no one else would answer to that. You say "Hey Coach!", and I'd say "Yeah?" or..."That's me!" or..."Hoo-hah!" ''{waves his arms in the air}'' Any one of those. There's rumors flyin' around that I sleep in one of these lockers ''{gestures to the lockers behind him}'', but uh, that's just not true. I usually crash on this bench here. ''{gestures to the bench behind him}'' My back's not in real good condition. ''{Rubs Back}'' And now, I'd like to perform my hip-hop single, "These peoples try to fade me." ''{holds up a microphone, begins to sing}'' A one-two, a one-two—!
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==="More than two problems"===
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{{seemain|Coach Z's Problems}}
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[[Image:Coach z butt.PNG|thumb|An unshaven Coach Z talking about his butt.]]
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As Coach Z himself is not afraid to admit, he's got [[Who Said What Now?|more than two problems]]. Despite being a coach, he doesn't know what a basketball is, as indicated in [[secret recipes]]. It has been strongly implied that he has a crush on [[Marzipan]], and he has occasionally made inappropriate comments about her; [[Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 5.0#Message 6|one occasion]] [[Marzipan's Answering Machine|on her answering machine]] when he was drunk, and another during the commercial break of the 4Tst annual [[Fall Float Parade]]. In [[diorama]], Coach Z even refers to Marzipan as his "gorgeous girlfriend". Coach Z also seems to have mental and gender confusion problems, as evidenced by the time he spent "talking to his parents" on a [[disconnected telephone]], and claiming to be a mother in [[garage sale]]. He has even stated on [[Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 8.0|one occasion]] that he sometimes "forgets what's real, and what's just in [his] head". He has an apparent fixation with butts, and he seems to have a habit of [[butt-patting]]. He also has a slight obsession with ointments and body creams, like using 'Blue Star Ointment' to scare people in [[Halloween Fairstival]].  Many characters see him as a nuisance. Even Homestar treated Coach Z with contempt in [[Decemberween Short Shorts]], quickly refusing to allow Coach Z to come to his house for [[Decemberween]].
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'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' ''{interrupting Coach Z}'' Sorry. We're all out of tape.
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===Accent===
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{{seemain|Coach Z's Accent}}
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Coach Z has great difficulty pronouncing certain words, such as "job" (as shown in the "[[A Jorb Well Done]]" cartoon); the most commonly mispronounced sounds are long e (e.g. The Cheat/"The Chort") and the short o (job/"jaerb"), which both come out as an "or" or "aer".
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==Coach Z's Accent==
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Occasionally, toons will imply that Coach Z is either deliberately playing up or entirely faking this manner of speech.  
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The primary factor in his hilarity, Coach Z's Upper Midwestern accent has made him into a very quotable character.
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===Phonetic Sounds Affected===
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==Character Design and Conception==
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The most commonly mispronounced sounds are long /e/ (i.e. The Cheat) and the short /o/ (job), which both come out as an "or" or "aer" ("The Chort", "jaerb").
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{{seealso|Coach Z Evolution}}
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[[Image:oldcoach.PNG|thumb|150px|"The 74s was the prime of my datin' year!"]]
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''From [[UMFM Interview - 20 May 2003|a 2003 interview with ''UMFM'']]:''
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<blockquote>'''[[MATT CHAPMAN]]:''' [Coach Z's accent] came from a depressing Midwesterner voice that me and some friends would do in college.<br/>
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'''KEVIN SCOTT:''' With rapper lingo thrown in for good measure.<br/>
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'''MATT:''' We thought that was the funniest part: here's this guy that's just this very white bread, blue-collar sounding dude {{-}} but he's down with old school hip hop, and up on the latest in hip hop.</blockquote>
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===List of mispronounced words===
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Coach Z's name is derived from a nickname given to [[Craig Zobel]] {{--}} though Zobel was not particularly into sports, [[Giant Magazine Interview|college friend Bill Kramer called him "Coach Z"]]. Around the same time, [[Mike Chapman]] was writing the book ''[[Where My Hat Is At?]]'' and needed a coach character. With Zobel's nickname in mind, the character was dubbed "Coach ''Zee''", though his name was simplified to "Z" after this initial appearance.
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{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width=100% style="border-collapse:collapse;"
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|- bgcolor=#eeeeee
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! Original Word !! Coach Z's version(s) !! Appears In
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|-
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| '''Awful''' || Orful || Email [[secret recipes]]
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|-
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| '''Balloon''' || b'lloon || [[Fall Float Parade]]
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|-
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| '''Bomb''' || Baermb || [[The House That Gave Sucky Treats]]
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|-
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| '''Chips''' || Chorps || [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
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|-
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| '''Chocolate''' || Cherclate || [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
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|-
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| '''Captain''' || [[Media:Highschool 6.ogg|Craptain]] || Email [[highschool]]
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|-
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| '''[[Decemberween]]''' || Decemberwern || [[The Best Decemberween Ever]]
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|-
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| '''[[DELETED]]''' || DELORTED || Email [[replacement]]
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|-
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| '''Did''' || Doird || [[Dangeresque (karaoke)]]
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|-
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| '''[[Fhqwhgads]]''' || Forhorgalingrads || Email [[sibbie]]
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|-
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| '''Field''' || Fierld || [[Marzipan's Answering Machine Version 1.0]]
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|-
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| '''Five''' || Farve || [[A Decemberween Pageant]]
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|-
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| '''Football Team''' || Foortball Torm || Email [[highschool]]
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|-
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| '''Halloween''' || Halloworn || [[The Best Decemberween Ever]]
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|-
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| '''Happy T''' || Horpy Tor || [[Happy T]]
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|-
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| '''Hello''' || Hellor || [[Homestar Presents: Presents]]
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|-
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| '''[[Homestar Runner|Homestar]]''' || Hamstray, Hamster, Stramstar,<br>[http://www.stairmaster.com Stairmaster], Homegrown, [[Wikipedia: Ramrod|Ramrod]], Humphel || [[A Jorb Well Done]]
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|-
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| '''I Feel Bad''' || Ir feer borld || Email [[part-time job#Commentary Transcript|part-time job (commentary)]]
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|-
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| '''Job''' || Jorb, Jaerb, Jarb, Jaeoreorb || [[A Jorb Well Done]],<br>Email [[boring (really)]]
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|-
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| '''Inappropriate''' || Inapprapriate || [[Fall Float Parade]]
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|-
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| '''Inoculate''' || Anorculate || [[The Brothers Chaps' Fansite Acknowledgments#Burning Horizon Forum|BHZ Anniversary Message]]
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|-
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| '''Jujyfruits''' || Jorjyfruits, Jerjyfrorts, Georgie Frorgie,<br>[[Wikipedia:George Foreman|George Foreman]] || [[The House That Gave Sucky Treats]]
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|-
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| '''[[Coach Z's Locker Room|Locker]]''' || Lacker, Lacquer || Email [[part-time job#Commentary_Transcript|part-time job (commentary)]],<br>Email [[myths & legends]]
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|-
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| '''[[Mike Chapman|Mike]]''' || Mork || Email [[part-time job#Commentary Transcript|part-time job (commentary)]]
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|-
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| '''Mouthwash''' || Mouthwarsh || [[The Best Decemberween Ever]]
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|-
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| '''Office''' || Arfice || [[In Search of the Yello Dello New Version|In Search of the Yello Dello]]
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|-
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| '''October''' || Orctober || [[The Best Decemberween Ever]]
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|-
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| '''Party''' || Pratty || Email [[impression]]
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|-
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| '''[[Pom Pom]]''' || Pam Pam || [[Fall Float Parade]]
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|-
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| '''Problem''' || Praeblem || [[In Search of the Yello Dello New Version|In Search of the Yello Dello]]
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|-
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| '''Real''' || Rrrl || [[A Folky Tale]]
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|-
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| '''Sports''' || Sprots || Email [[part-time job#Commentary Transcript|part-time job (commentary)]]
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|-
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| '''Swedish Fish''' || Swordish Feirsh || [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
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|-
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| '''Strong Bad''' || Straong Bad || ??
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|-
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<!-- Please do not add "Torm" unless a cartoon is released where Coach Z says this by itself.  In "highschool", he says "Foortball Torm", and that is covered further up in this list. -->
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| '''[[The Cheat]]''' || The Chort || ''see [[Nicknames#The Cheat|Nicknames]]''
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| '''Thug''' || Thorg || [[Halloween Fairstival]]
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|-
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| '''Thumb''' || Thermb || [[Some Stupid Turkey]]
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|-
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| '''[[Toilets|Toilet']]'' || Terlet || [[Halloween Fairstival]],<br>[[A Folky Tale]],<br>[[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]] (Bubs)
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|-
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| '''Tomato''' || Tomater, "[[Quote of the Week#2005-12-08|I zader matermorts]]" || [[Fall Float Parade]]
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|-
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| '''Trick or Treat''' || Track or Trort || [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
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|}
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===Inconsistencies===
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The character's distinctive voice is derived from many regional American accents {{--}} most prominently {{w|North-Central American English|Upper Midwestern}}, {{w|Midland American English|Midland}}, and {{w|Eastern New England English|Eastern New England}} {{--}} and further exaggerated for comedic effect. Inspiration comes from both [[Indiana]] relatives and a funny voice [[Matt Chapman]] would use.
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Evidence has suggested that Coach Z's accent may be bogus:
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===Appearance===
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*After saying "track or trort" in [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]], Bubs gets on his case and he says it correctly. If given "Swedish Fish," said as "Swordish Forsh," Bubs gets on his case again and Coach Z says "It's a crowd-pleaser."
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Coach Z wears a purple baseball cap with a blue bill. His head is a white sphere with light gray circles for eyes. Coach Z [[Lack of Visible Body Parts#Coach Z's Face|lacks a visible nose and mouth]], but is able to talk, eat, and spit with ease. He wears a large, gold "Z" medallion on his torso. His body is a bright green color, which is ambiguously either his skin or a body suit. His [[shapeshifter|sweatpants waistband]], [[Fish Eye Lens|"mittens"]], and [[Fan Costumes 2017|removing a skin-tight suit]] have been mentioned; alternatively, he has been shown to wear [[underlings|a bathing suit]] or [[Costume Commercial|a Halloween costume]] over the green. He has long arms and large feet, but very short legs.
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*Coach Z says "jorb" in [[boring (really)]], despite the fact that he has learned how to say "job".
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*Coach Z says "The Cheat" immediately after "The Chort" in [[mascot]], though he speaks as though he's talking about two separate characters.
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*In the DVD commentary for [[part-time job]], Mike exploits Coach Z's "accent" by implying that not only by does Coach Z add the letter R to words, but now also likes to switch letters around sometimes, and in reply Coach Z partially admits to his accent being bogus.
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Furthermore, Marzipan implies in [[Fall Float Parade]] that Coach Z's way of speaking may just be a made-up language all in itself ("That's Pom Pom Balloon, for those of you who don't speak Coach Z").
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{{Character Video Transcript}}
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===Featured in===
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==Discography==
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*[[A Jorb Well Done]]
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[[File:sbemail128.png|thumb|"I'm about to have a dope rhyme attack!"]]
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*[[Coach Z Talker]]
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*"[[These Peoples Try To Fade Me]]" (2003)
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*"[[New Boots|Hip Hop Dance]]" (2004)
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*"[[Rap Song]]" featuring [[Peacey P]] and [[Tenerence Love]] (2007)
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*"[[being mean|Coach Z Gets Noice]]" (2008)
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*"[[Loading Screens]]" feat. [[Strong Bad]] and [[Homestar Runner]] (2009)
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*"[[Fish Eye Lens]]" (2014)
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*"[[The Wraparound]]" (2019)
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===As a member of Two-O Duo===
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[[Image:BandTwo-ODuo.png|thumb|"One, two, one-one two."]]
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*"Lets's TP The Stick"
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*"Throwing Rocks Through Ol' Man Marzipan's Windows"
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*"Stealin' Stuff From My Own Dang Store"
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*"Kick the Chort"
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===Features===
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*"[[Strong Badia the Free|Downright Homey]]" by Peacey P (feat. The Traitorous Coach Z)
== Fun Facts ==
== Fun Facts ==
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*Coach Z's accent came from a depressing Midwestern voice that [[Matt Chapman|Matt]] and some friends would do in college.
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[[Image:torn_rubdominal_scrimmage.PNG|thumb|The emblem's a bone?]]
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*It was revealed in issue #21 of Wonkavision magazine that Coach Z is named after [[Craig Zobel]].
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== Also known as... ==
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*According to the [[Old Characters Page]], Coach Z wasn't much of a coach at the time, and he just added the title because it sounded "cooler than just Z". He has been seen coaching on numerous occasions since then, though his talent at it is still dubious at best.
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*[[The Fort Wayne Locomotive]] ([[Old-Timey]])
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*According to [[trading cards]], Coach Z gave 23 [[Butt-Patting|butt pats]] in 1984 (22 to Homestar, 1 to himself).
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*[[20X6 Coach Z]] ([[20X6]])
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*Strong Bad referred to Coach Z as "Green Bubs" in the email [[road trip]].
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*In [[Date Nite]] he is shown without his hat and wearing hair curlers, despite a lack of visible hair.
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*On Coach Z's emblem, the darker blue shine streak under the gold Z makes a backwards Z formation.
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*Though not very expressive usually, later toons gave Coach Z an "angry eyes" expression (seen in [[Kick-A-Ball]] and [[hremail 3184]]).
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<gallery>
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Image:coachzs Z.png|Coach Z's emblem
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Image:ZsNewMedallion.png|His emblem, squished / skewed / turned all around (from [[redesign]])
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Image:Coach Z- no hat.PNG|A rare hatless appearance
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</gallery>
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== Relationships ==
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:''Main article: [[Character Relationships]]''
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*[[Bubs and Coach Z's Relationship]]
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*[[Strong Bad and Coach Z's Relationship]]
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*[[Marzipan and Coach Z's Relationship]]
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*[[Homestar Runner and Coach Z's Relationship]]
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*[[Strong Sad and Coach Z's Relationship]]
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*[[Strong Mad and Coach Z's Relationship]]
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*[[Coach Z and The Cheat's Relationship]]
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*[[Coach Z and Pom Pom's Relationship]]
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== Variations ==
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[[File:ZSabre.png|thumb|"You simpleton!"]]
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*[[Fort Wayne Locomotive]] ([[Old-Timey]])
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*[[Z Sabre]] ([[20X6]])
*[[Renaldo]] ([[Dangeresque (film series)|Dangeresque]])
*[[Renaldo]] ([[Dangeresque (film series)|Dangeresque]])
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*[[Zubs and Coach B|Coach B]]
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*[[Zubs and Coach B|Coach B or Zubs]]  
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*[[Other Character Variations|Coach Zed]]
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*[[Coach Zed]]
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*[[Mount RidesPlace USA Mascots|Stoppy the Sign]]
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*[[Strong Badman Characters#Damp Towel Man|Damp Towel Man]]
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*[[flashback|The Coach Z]]
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*[[Zoach C]] ([[Xeriouxly Forxe]])
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*[[Yonder Website Character Variations#Character 3|Character 3]] ([[Characters from Yonder Website|Yonder Website]])
=== [[Halloween Costumes]] ===
=== [[Halloween Costumes]] ===
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In each Homestar Runner Halloween special, Coach Z has dressed up as a [[Wikipedia:Rapping|rapper]]. (The Noid costume was not released.)
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In each Homestar Runner Halloween special, Coach Z has dressed up as something rap or [[hip-hop]]-related, or in the case of Theo Huxtable and Malcolm, something he ''believes'' to be hip-hop related. Strong Bad has questioned how much Coach Z actually knows about these artists.
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*[[Wikipedia:Flavor Flav|Flavor Flav]] in [[Homestarloween Party]].
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*{{w|Flavor Flav}} (of {{w|Public Enemy}}) in [[Homestarloween Party]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Shock G|Humpty Hump]] in [[The House That Gave Sucky Treats]].
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*{{w|Shock G|Humpty Hump}} (of {{w|Digital Underground}}) in [[The House That Gave Sucky Treats]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Noid|The Noid]] (not used in a 'toon, but seen on a [[The House That Gave Sucky Treats#Secret Costumes|secret page]])
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*{{w|Christopher Reid (rapper)|Kid}} (of {{w|Kid 'n Play}}) in [[Pumpkin Carve-nival]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Christopher "Kid" Reid|Kid]] in [[Pumpkin Carve-nival]].
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*{{w|Kool Moe Dee}} (of The {{w|Treacherous Three}}) in [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Kool Moe Dee|Kool Moe Dee]] in [[3 Times Halloween Funjob]].
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*{{w|Tupac Shakur|Tupac}} in [[Halloween Fairstival]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Tupac Shakur|Tupac]] in [[Halloween Fairstival]].
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*{{w|Theodore Huxtable|Theo Huxtable}} (from ''[[Bill Cosby|The Cosby Show]]'') in [[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]]
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*Theo Huxtable (from [[Wikipedia:The Cosby Show|The Cosby Show]]) in [[Halloween Potion-ma-jig]].
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*{{w|Queen Latifah}} in [[Happy Hallow-day]]
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*{{w|So So Def Recordings}} Logo in [[Jibblies 2]]
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*{{w|Lance Robertson|DJ Lance Rock}} (from ''{{w|Yo Gabba Gabba}}'') in [[Most in the Graveyard]]
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*{{w|MC Skat Kat}} in [[Doomy Tales of the Macabre]]
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*{{w|Loose leaf|Notebook paper}} ("The Rapping Paper") in [[Which Ween Costumes?]]
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*[[A Tribe Called Quest]] (album cover mascot) in [[I Killed Pom Pom]]
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*{{w|André 3000}} (of [[Outkast]]) in [[The House That Gave Sucky Tricks]]
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*{{w|Kwamé}} in [[Later That Night...]]
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*{{w|PaRappa the Rapper}} in [[Haunted Photo Booth]]
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*{{w|Missy Elliott}} (as her head, with Pom Pom as {{w|The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)|her inflatable suit}}) in [[Mr. Poofers Must Die]]
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*{{w|DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince|The Fresh Prince}}'s Mom in [[The Homestar Runner Enters The Spooky Woods]]
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*{{w|Del the Funky Homosapien|Del}} (from {{w|Gorillaz}}) in [[Halloween Hijinks]]
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*Malcolm (from ''{{w|The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge}}'') in [[Halloween Hide & Seek]]
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*{{w|Darryl McDaniels|DMC}} (from [[Run-DMC]]) in [[2022 Costume Pack Now Available]]
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*A [[Beastie Boy]] (from ''{{w|Intergalctic (song)|Intergalactic}}'') in [[The Show: Ween Edition]]
 +
 
 +
[[Rejected costumes]] of Coach Z as {{w|The Noid}} and [[Bob & Doug McKenzie|Doug McKenzie]] have been shared; notably, these unused costumes have no connection to hip-hop.
 +
 
 +
==Quotes of the Week==
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{{qotwstart}}
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*{{qotw|"What kinda wood ya use there, Strong Bad? Cause y'know I knew a guy up in Paughkeegan who could work wonders with a piece of..."|[[The Luau]] extended take |Mirror:cz_wood.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"I think there's a Blubb-O's Li'l Lubber's meal rattlin around up there somewhere."|[[On Break]] outtake|Mirror:cz_lillubbers.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"You don't need no consummate V's to be my bride."|[[Trogday 08]] Easter egg|Mirror:cz_bemybride.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"Mmmmm! Drink in that bun!"|[[environment]]|Mirror:cz_drinkin.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"Coach Z, R-A-P. Accidentally featuring Peacey P..." ''{entire "Rap Song"}''|[[Rap Song]]|Mirror:rapsong.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"I feel like that school child on the first day of Christmas!"|QotW exclusive|Mirror:cz schoolchild.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"Oh. I guess I forgort to port. Oh! I guess I forgat to prat! OH! Gorka fa pork!"|[[mini-golf]]|Mirror:cz forgortport.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"You say tomater, I zader madermorts."|[[Fall Float Parade]]|Mirror:cz tomater.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"IT'S DAZZLE-MAZING!!"|[[Happy Fireworks]]|Mirror:cz dazzlemaze.mp3}}
 +
*{{qotw|"Once again, [[Biscuit Dough Hands Man]] slips through our fingers!"|[[Strong Bad is in Jail Cartoon]]|Mirror:cz slipthrufingers.mp3}}
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*{{qotw|"It was Biscuit Dough Hands Man! I knew it!!"|[[Strong Bad is in Jail Cartoon]]|Mirror:cz bdhman.zip}}
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*{{qotw|"My name is Coach Z. Pronounced with an 'oach Z'."|[[The House That Gave Sucky Treats]]|Mirror:cz oachz.mp3}}
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|}
==See Also==
==See Also==
Line 161: Line 148:
*[[Coach Z Other Costumes|Other Costumes]]
*[[Coach Z Other Costumes|Other Costumes]]
*[[Nicknames#Coach Z|Nicknames]]
*[[Nicknames#Coach Z|Nicknames]]
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*[[Coach Z Talker]]
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*[[Coach Z's 110%]]
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*[[Coach Z pukes in dude's toupee]]
== External Links ==
== External Links ==
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* [[HR:vcr_cz.html|watch Coach Z's character video]]
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{{nextlinks|vcr-cz|old=vcr_cz|title=Coach Z's character video|noquotes=true}}
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* [[HR:vcr_cz.swf|view the Flash file for Coach Z's character video]]
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{{Characters|Coach Z}}
{{Characters|Coach Z}}
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[[Category:Word running gags]]
 

Current revision as of 19:34, 14 March 2024

Character: Coach Z
watch Coach Z's character video ← Marzipan Bubs →
Coach Z
He has more than two problems.
Domicile Locker Room
Voiced by Matt Chapman
Debut Where My Hat Is At?
Complete Filmography
Related Articles
Character Video
Character Relationships
Character Evolution
Other Costumes
Nicknames
3D Variation
"Hey, watch where y'er pointin' that 3D!"

Coach Z is the "coach" of the residents of Free Country, USA, though it is unclear exactly which sports he coaches. While occasionally tiresome, and burdened with "more than two" socially awkward problems, he is always ready to offer encouragement and is rarely critical of anyone.

Contents

[edit] Characterization

Coach Z can often be found at the gymnasium or race track (indeed, he seems to live in the accompanying locker room), providing vague coaching or similar involvement with various athletics. When giving advice, he tends to start with the phrase "You can't just rush into the score zone", which has lost its meaning through time. In addition to working as a coach, Coach Z works with Homestar Runner and Bubs as the apparent local law enforcement in Free Country, USA. Coach Z is also the janitor at the office where Homestar and Strong Bad work. He is paid on hourly wage and is clearly jealous that Strong Bad is paid on salary. He has also spent time dressed as the Blubb-O's Drive-Thru Whale mascot. Coach Z owns four Tony awards, suggesting that he may have a background in theater. Despite his numerous jobs, Coach Z has trouble managing his money, causing his electricity to be shut off each year.

Coach Z is a fan of hip-hop and rap music, particularly the Wu-Tang Clan. He fancies himself a rapper as well: He released the single "These Peoples Try to Fade Me", which appeared on Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits, his solo album, entitled "The Z Is All Up Ins", features the smash hit "Hip Hop Dance", and his own rap song, "Rap Song" (featuring Peacey P and Tenerence Love). Although his usual rapping prowess consists mainly of "count[ing] to two over and over again", as explained in nightlife, he once had a very successful career during his days in the Two-o Duo. More recent works such as "Loading Screens" and "Fish Eye Lens" may indicate that his rap skills are starting to improve.

Over the hill?

Coach Z's age is somewhat ambiguous, though he typically is portrayed as older than characters like Strong Bad and Homestar: he appears to be grown up when Strong Bad was a kid in the email stand-up as well as appearing as an adult in 1974 in the 'toon Decemberween short shorts; in caffeine, Strong Sad's slaps provoke him to cry out "I'm just an old man!"; in slumber party, Strong Bad refers to him, Bubs, and The King of Town as "older kids"; and while narrating an interaction between Coach Z and Bubs in narrator, Strong Bad labels them both as "weird old men".

Coach Z and Bubs had a falling out at one point, as Fall Float Parade shows us; Bubs makes a "Coach Z, you jerk!" float for the parade, and Coach Z retaliates by saying "Serves him right, then" when Strong Mad steals his concession stand. In the email narrator, it was shown that they had made-up and returned to having boring conversations about Bubs's napkins. However, in Most In The Graveyard, when it is implied that Coach Z fancies Bubs' sister, Bubs beats him up. In the same toon, it is also revealed that Coach Z and Bubs may actually be very distant cousins, although Bubs finds this hard to believe.

[edit] "More than two problems"

See main article: Coach Z's Problems
An unshaven Coach Z talking about his butt.

As Coach Z himself is not afraid to admit, he's got more than two problems. Despite being a coach, he doesn't know what a basketball is, as indicated in secret recipes. It has been strongly implied that he has a crush on Marzipan, and he has occasionally made inappropriate comments about her; one occasion on her answering machine when he was drunk, and another during the commercial break of the 4Tst annual Fall Float Parade. In diorama, Coach Z even refers to Marzipan as his "gorgeous girlfriend". Coach Z also seems to have mental and gender confusion problems, as evidenced by the time he spent "talking to his parents" on a disconnected telephone, and claiming to be a mother in garage sale. He has even stated on one occasion that he sometimes "forgets what's real, and what's just in [his] head". He has an apparent fixation with butts, and he seems to have a habit of butt-patting. He also has a slight obsession with ointments and body creams, like using 'Blue Star Ointment' to scare people in Halloween Fairstival. Many characters see him as a nuisance. Even Homestar treated Coach Z with contempt in Decemberween Short Shorts, quickly refusing to allow Coach Z to come to his house for Decemberween.

[edit] Accent

See main article: Coach Z's Accent

Coach Z has great difficulty pronouncing certain words, such as "job" (as shown in the "A Jorb Well Done" cartoon); the most commonly mispronounced sounds are long e (e.g. The Cheat/"The Chort") and the short o (job/"jaerb"), which both come out as an "or" or "aer".

Occasionally, toons will imply that Coach Z is either deliberately playing up or entirely faking this manner of speech.

[edit] Character Design and Conception

See also Coach Z Evolution
"The 74s was the prime of my datin' year!"

From a 2003 interview with UMFM:

MATT CHAPMAN: [Coach Z's accent] came from a depressing Midwesterner voice that me and some friends would do in college.
KEVIN SCOTT: With rapper lingo thrown in for good measure.
MATT: We thought that was the funniest part: here's this guy that's just this very white bread, blue-collar sounding dude – but he's down with old school hip hop, and up on the latest in hip hop.

Coach Z's name is derived from a nickname given to Craig Zobel — though Zobel was not particularly into sports, college friend Bill Kramer called him "Coach Z". Around the same time, Mike Chapman was writing the book Where My Hat Is At? and needed a coach character. With Zobel's nickname in mind, the character was dubbed "Coach Zee", though his name was simplified to "Z" after this initial appearance.

The character's distinctive voice is derived from many regional American accents — most prominently Upper Midwestern, Midland, and Eastern New England — and further exaggerated for comedic effect. Inspiration comes from both Indiana relatives and a funny voice Matt Chapman would use.

[edit] Appearance

Coach Z wears a purple baseball cap with a blue bill. His head is a white sphere with light gray circles for eyes. Coach Z lacks a visible nose and mouth, but is able to talk, eat, and spit with ease. He wears a large, gold "Z" medallion on his torso. His body is a bright green color, which is ambiguously either his skin or a body suit. His sweatpants waistband, "mittens", and removing a skin-tight suit have been mentioned; alternatively, he has been shown to wear a bathing suit or a Halloween costume over the green. He has long arms and large feet, but very short legs.

[edit] Character Video Transcript

See main article: Coach Z's Character Video

COACH Z: {looking slightly offscreen} Is that thing on? {turns to the camera lens} Hey there, ho there! I'm the Coach! The Coach Z, I'd guess you'd call me. Or plain old Coach is fine, seein' as I'm the only one around, so, probably no one else would answer to that. You say "Hey Coach!", and I'd say "Yeah?" or... "That's me!" or... "Hoo-hah!" {waves his arms in the air} Any one of those. There's rumors flyin' around that I sleep in one of these lockers, {gestures to the lockers behind him} but uh, that's just not true. I usually crash on this bench here. {gestures to the bench behind him} My back's not in real good condition. {rubs his back} And now, I'd like to perform my hip-hop single, "These peoples try to fade me". {holds up a microphone, begins to sing} A one-two, a one-two—!

HOMESTAR RUNNER: {appears in front of camera} Sorry. We're all out of tape.

[edit] Discography

"I'm about to have a dope rhyme attack!"

[edit] As a member of Two-O Duo

"One, two, one-one two."
  • "Lets's TP The Stick"
  • "Throwing Rocks Through Ol' Man Marzipan's Windows"
  • "Stealin' Stuff From My Own Dang Store"
  • "Kick the Chort"

[edit] Features

[edit] Fun Facts

The emblem's a bone?
  • According to the Old Characters Page, Coach Z wasn't much of a coach at the time, and he just added the title because it sounded "cooler than just Z". He has been seen coaching on numerous occasions since then, though his talent at it is still dubious at best.
  • According to trading cards, Coach Z gave 23 butt pats in 1984 (22 to Homestar, 1 to himself).
  • Strong Bad referred to Coach Z as "Green Bubs" in the email road trip.
  • In Date Nite he is shown without his hat and wearing hair curlers, despite a lack of visible hair.
  • On Coach Z's emblem, the darker blue shine streak under the gold Z makes a backwards Z formation.
  • Though not very expressive usually, later toons gave Coach Z an "angry eyes" expression (seen in Kick-A-Ball and hremail 3184).

Coach Z's emblem

His emblem, squished / skewed / turned all around (from redesign)

A rare hatless appearance

[edit] Relationships

Main article: Character Relationships

[edit] Variations

"You simpleton!"

[edit] Halloween Costumes

In each Homestar Runner Halloween special, Coach Z has dressed up as something rap or hip-hop-related, or in the case of Theo Huxtable and Malcolm, something he believes to be hip-hop related. Strong Bad has questioned how much Coach Z actually knows about these artists.

Rejected costumes of Coach Z as The Noid and Doug McKenzie have been shared; notably, these unused costumes have no connection to hip-hop.

[edit] Quotes of the Week

Coach Z's Quotes of the Week

[edit] See Also

[edit] External Links

Main Characters

Homestar Runner | Strong Bad | The Cheat | Strong Mad | Strong Sad | Pom Pom | Marzipan | Coach Z | Bubs | The King of Town | The Poopsmith | Homsar

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