For fans of the hit Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso, a new course at Dalhousie is generating excitement and offering opportunities for students to “be curious, not judgemental.”
KINE 4240: Coaching and Life: Lessons from Ted Lasso uses the popular television show — recently confirmed for a fourth season — to analyze and interpret sport psychology and sociology as well as explore leadership, social justice, and coaching.
The course launches next winter term and will be taught by Dr. Lori Dithurbide, an associate professor of kinesiology in the School of Health and Human Performance. The idea for it came from a discussion she had with a friend and work colleague about how much they enjoyed the show and how deeply it explored leadership, resilience and human connection.
“At one point, my friend and work colleague joked, 'You should teach a class on Ted Lasso.' I laughed, but the idea stuck. I mentioned it to Laurene Rehman, our director and a fellow fan, and we started brainstorming how the show could serve as a lens for discussing coaching, leadership, and social justice in sport and beyond,” says Dr. Dithurbide.
Jason Sudeikis, left, who plays the titular character in the hit Apple TV+ streaming show alongside Hannah Waddingham. (Image courtesy of Apple TV+)
Lessons that extend beyond the pitch
In an era where sport leadership is increasingly scrutinized, Ted Lasso has emerged as more than just a feel-good sitcom — it’s a masterclass in coaching, teamwork and human connection. The show’s blend of humour, empathy and emotional intelligence resonates deeply with athletes, coaches and leaders across industries. Beyond the laughs and catchy one-liners though, the show offers profound lessons on resilience, culture-building and the power of belief.
The show stars Jason Sudeikis as the titular Ted Lasso, an American football coach hired to lead AFC Richmond, a British soccer team — despite knowing nothing about the sport. Throughout the challenges of his job and adjusting to life as a fish-out-of-water Kentuckian in London, Lasso counters setbacks and skepticism with optimism, determination, and plenty of dad jokes.
Released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ted Lasso struck a perfect balance between positivity, folksy wisdom, emotional depth and humour. As fans connected with Lasso and the ensemble cast, the show quickly gained momentum, earning a reputation as a “comfort show.” Amid the uncertainty and turmoil of world events, many turned to its three seasons as a source of escape — often binge watching them multiple times.
What made the course idea so compelling was how naturally the show sparked real, meaningful conversations. If it could do that among friends and colleagues, why not in the classroom?
What made the course idea so compelling was how naturally the show sparked real, meaningful conversations. If it could do that among friends and colleagues, why not in the classroom? Using a popular show as a learning tool offers a fresh, engaging way to explore complex topics—making education not just informative, but also fun and relatable.
The ‘fun factor’ of the course is a compelling draw for students, but it is backed up by academic rigour.
“It’s a fourth-year course, so it’s not like ‘let’s watch the show and talk about it, and that’s it,” Dithurbide says. “It’s really meant to inspire critical thinking and create learning outcomes in self-awareness and self-reflection in the context of coaching leadership and social justice issues. My area of expertise is sports psychology, so we will be covering that topic in the class as well.”
Students will use theoretical and empirical literature to engage in critical thinking and self-reflection exercises to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the course topics. It is open to all senior students, and not restricted to those in Kinesiology or the School of Health and Human Performance.
As Ted Lasso continues to resonate with audiences, its impact on leadership, coaching and team culture remains undeniable. And with a fourth season on the way, fans and educators alike will have even more to learn from AFC Richmond’s beloved coach.