Overview
Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.
Trailer
Crew
DirectorDavid Anspaugh
WriterAngelo Pizzo
Cast
Gene Hackman
Coach Norman Dale
Barbara Hershey
Myra Fleener
Dennis Hopper
Shooter
Sheb Wooley
Cletus
Fern Persons
Opal Fleener
Chelcie Ross
George
Robert Swan
Rollin
Michael O'Guinne
Rooster
Wil Dewitt
Reverend Doty
John Robert Thompson
Sheriff Finley
Michael Sassone
Preacher Purl
Gloria Dorson
Millie
Mike Dalzell
Mayor Carl
Skip Welker
Junior
Eric Gilliom
J. June
Robert Boyle
Referee (Oolitic)
Jerry D. Petro
Referee - Oolitic Game
Sam Smiley
Referee - Cedar Knob Game
Tom McConnell
Coach - Cedar Knob
Dennis Farkas
Gorilla Player - Cedar Knob
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Keywords
high schoolindiana, usasportsparent child relationshipsonbased on true storybasketballcoachhigh school sportshoosier1950sbasketball coachhead coachcoachingcoach teacherhigh school coach
Details
Budget
$9M
Revenue
$29M
TMDb Votes
583
Added May 14, 2026Updated Jun 4, 2026