When the cast for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans was announced, one of the most interesting inclusions by far was Benjamin "Coach" Wade. A member of the Survivor Hall of Fame, Coach has made a huge mark on the hit reality show and he has a complicated history with some of Survivor 50's other players.
Based on Coach's Survivor history, many of the biggest fans of Jeff Probst's reality show expect him to be a remarkable part of the upcoming season. While many observers have tracked how compelling Coach can be as a TV presence, it seems like fans of the show are underestimating another way he could affect Survivor 50.
If things go his way, and he has made some important adjustments, Coach could be a real threat to win Survivor 50.
Why Coach could win Survivor 50
Whenever there is an all-star Survivor season, many fans expect the cast members who entered the game with a reputation as a huge threat to win. In some cases, that has certainly happened, like when Tony Vlachos prevailed during Survivor: Winners at War. However, many returning player seasons have been won by somebody that fans never would have predicted at the time. Amber Brkich Mariano winning Survivor: All-Stars, Sarah Lacina winning Survivor: Game Changers, and Sandra Diaz-Twine winning Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains are examples of Sole Survivors nobody would have predicted.
With that in mind, there is a very good chance that Survivor 50 could be won by somebody that most of the show's fans wouldn't expect. Because Coach has been underestimated for years, that seems to perfectly set him up to be a dark horse contender to win Survivor 50. With that argument in mind, that may leave some observers wondering why I would argue that Coach is underestimated.
Throughout Coach's Survivor tenure, the show has often depicted him as someone who shouldn't be taken seriously by fans or his tribemates. However, the reality is that Coach actually is a formidable person who has accomplished more than most ever will, and he isn't stopping yet.
For example, Coach truly is an accomplished soccer coach who has led teams to a great deal of success at the highest levels. If that wasn't impressive enough, Coach is a talented trumpet player whose skills are so impressive that he got to perform the national anthem at a Buffalo Bills game, and he did a great job. Coach has also become a teacher who uses his talents and unique views on life to help mold the minds of the next generation. Those are only a few examples of the amazing things Coach has accomplished, which proves why everyone should take him seriously
On top of being capable of doing impressive things, there is another element of Coach that could make him a serious Survivor 50 danger; people love him. During Survivor: South Pacific, Coach was able to lead his tribe partially because he was a veteran whom his tribemates looked to for guidance.
However, Coach also had people following him because he has a magnetic personality that people are drawn to. It is the same reason why many former Survivor players who are active in the community have love for Coach.
Since Coach is underestimated, he could easily slide by during Survivor 50's early game. Because Coach can do incredible things, he is capable of beating the odds and making it to the end again. Due to the fact that Coach has a magnetic personality, he could get enough jury votes to prevail if he makes it to the final tribal council without making too many enemies. While a lot will need to go his way, Coach could win Survivor 50.
Survivor 50 premieres on CBS on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2026.