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| Sheldon (previously Shannon) Beiste | |
|---|---|
| Glee character | |
&sq=Sri Lanka&lang=en&file=File:Beiste_Glee.jpg) Dot-Marie Jones as coach Sheldon Beiste in Glee | |
| First appearance | "Audition" (2010) |
| Last appearance | "Dreams Come True" (2015) |
| Created by | Ryan Murphy Brad Falchuk Ian Brennan |
| Portrayed by | Dot-Marie Jones |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | High school football coach |
| Family | Denise Beiste (sister) |
| Spouse | Cooter Menkins (divorced) |
Coach Beiste is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee, portrayed by actress Dot-Marie Jones. The character has appeared in Glee since its second season premiere "Audition", first broadcast on September 21, 2010.
Coach Beiste is originally presented as a heterosexual, cisgender, and gender non-conforming woman. However, in the sixth season, it is revealed to the audience that Coach Beiste is actually a gay and transgender man. After revealing that he is transgender, Beiste undergoes gender confirmation surgery and changes his first name to Sheldon. A championship-winning football coach, Beiste is brought in to make the McKinley High football team successful. He immediately comes into conflict with cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) and glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), though Beiste and Will eventually become good friends. In his first year, Beiste successfully steers the team to its first championship. When the character returns in the third season, in addition to coaching football, Beiste co-directs the school musical and runs the elections for senior class president. His first boyfriend is Ohio State football recruiter Cooter Menkins (Eric Bruskotter), though he initially faces competition from Sue for him. Beiste and Cooter eventually marry, and he later finds support from Sue after becoming the victim of domestic abuse, ultimately leaving and then divorcing Cooter.
A recurring role starting in the second season, Jones as Beiste was promoted to the main cast in the sixth and final season. Jones received Emmy nominations in 2011, 2012, and 2013 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work as Beiste in Glee's second, third and fourth seasons respectively. Beiste's season two storyline in the episode Jones submitted for final judging—"Never Been Kissed"—was criticized by many reviewers, though they lauded her acting. Beiste in the third season has been described as "believable and heartfelt", and Jones as "brilliant".[1]