Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living... as of very recently, in London. Ted has lived in the United States all his life, but when his newest coaching job requires that he leave Kansas and move to the UK, he approaches it with enthusiasm—just like everything else. It’s definitely going to take some getting used to, though—there’s all kinds of new lingo, he hates tea (“hot brown water”), and he misses his family. If anyone can find the best in a situation, though, it’s Ted.
Profession... the newest head coach of AFC Richmond, a premier league soccer team in England that recently underwent a shift in ownership and has been doing poorly recently. The catch? He doesn’t know anything about soccer. As he puts it, “Heck, you could fill two internets with what I don’t know about football.” Back home in Kansas, he was the coach of a Division II American football team, the Wichita State Shockers, and he was very successful, leading a previously mediocre team to their first national title. but he was better known for the video that went viral of him celebrating a victory with his team through an exuberant, goofy dance as they cheered and laughed—something that’s indicative of his greatest strength as a coach. Ted has the ability to connect with people and make them want to perform their best.
Interests... pretty much anything, if presented the right way. Ted views everything and everyone as something that has the potential to be fascinating. For example, when asked if he believes in ghosts, he responds, “I do. But more importantly, I think they need to believe in themselves.”
Relationship Status... separated from his wife, Michelle, who is still living in the US with their son, Henry. Ted loves and misses them both so much, but Michelle wanted space from him and their relationship, which he can respect, even if it makes him sad. He took the job in the UK largely to give her the space she was asking for.
Challenge... winning the confidence of everyone around him. While he is optimistic about his chances of leading AFC Richmond to success, members of his team and the larger public, especially the British press, do not share that sentiment. Ted’s first press conference was a disaster, and it does not look like the reporters will be going easy on him. To the contrary, he’s being brutally bashed for his cluelessness about the sport (which wasn’t helped by his inability to name more than two soccer players), especially by reporter Trent Crimm. He takes it all with a smile, though—he’s sure he’ll win them over. He also misses his son and is saddened by his relationship with his wife, which is on pause despite his best efforts to make her happy. But as he puts it, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”
Personality... compassionate, charismatic, and relentlessly positive. Even though some people can find it overwhelming and even irritating at first, he can make most people like him—although coaching AFC Richmond will be the real test of that. He’s eager to learn, though, and he’s kind to everyone. However, his goofy exterior can distract from the fact that he is surprisingly perceptive and emotionally intelligent.
