A familiar face will be returning to New Girl after a long absence.

First appearing on the show's pilot back in 2011, Damon Wayans Jr. will reprise his role as Coach during season 3, according to Access Hollywood.

One of the original three roommates, Wayans wound up leaving the Fox comedy when he resumed shooting for ABC's Happy Endings. Now that Happy Endings has drawn to a close, New Girl writers have decided to bring the character of Coach back into the lives of Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Jess (Zooey Deschanel), and Winston (Lamorne Morris).

"I think we're gonna dive into some of Coach's backstory, maybe, to see why he left the loft, to see why [Coach and Winston] know each other," Lamorne said, according to Access Hollywood. "I think it'll be great."

Brought in as Coach's replacement following Wayans' departure, Winston became the fourth roommate in season 1's "Kryptonite." His introduction was seamless and little was ever mentioned about Coach or his sudden disappearance from the loft. Reintroducing the character two seasons later provides a lot of different areas for writers to explore.

"I think he's gonna add a lot to the show and I'm excited to see how Coach and Winston mix it up and Coach and Cece, and everybody, just to see what happens," Johnson told Access Hollywood.

New Girl returns to Fox on Sept. 17 and Wayans will be featured later in the season.

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