Molly McGrath (played by Goldie Hawn) is a protagonist in Wildcats.
Molly McGrath is the central protagonist, a former girls’ track coach at affluent Prescott High School and the daughter of a famed football coach. She takes over Central High School’s football team, faces racial and gender prejudice, recruits troubled talent, develops the players, and fights for custody of her two daughters. Alice Needham (played by Robyn Lively) appears in Wildcats.
Alice Needham is one of Molly McGrath’s two young daughters. Her custody is part of Molly’s personal struggle outside the football field, making Alice directly connected to the coach’s family conflict and to the emotional stakes Molly must manage while rebuilding the Central High School team. Marian Needham (played by Brandy Gold) appears in Wildcats.
Marian Needham is one of Molly McGrath’s two young daughters. Molly’s battle to retain custody of Marian forms an important part of the coach’s personal storyline, contrasting with her public challenge of leading Central High School’s football team against prejudice and athletic opposition. Frank Needham (played by James Keach) appears in Wildcats.
Principal Walker (played by George Wyner) appears in Wildcats.
Walt Coes (played by M. Emmet Walsh) appears in Wildcats.
Wildcats (1986) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Molly McGrath
(played by Goldie Hawn) — protagonist
Molly McGrath is the central protagonist, a former girls’ track coach at affluent Prescott High School and the daughter of a famed football coach. She takes over Central High School’s football team, f...
Alice Needham
(played by Robyn Lively) — supporting
Alice Needham is one of Molly McGrath’s two young daughters. Her custody is part of Molly’s personal struggle outside the football field, making Alice directly connected to the coach’s family conflict...
Marian Needham
(played by Brandy Gold) — supporting
Marian Needham is one of Molly McGrath’s two young daughters. Molly’s battle to retain custody of Marian forms an important part of the coach’s personal storyline, contrasting with her public challeng...
Frank Needham
(played by James Keach) — supporting
Principal Walker
(played by George Wyner) — minor
Walt Coes
(played by M. Emmet Walsh) — minor
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Molly McGrath → Walt Coes
(Professional Client And Lawyer)
The plot identifies Walt Coes as Molly's lawyer and says he urges her to remain hopeful during the custody hearing.
Molly McGrath → Principal Walker
(Professional School Administrator And Coach)
Principal Walker agrees that Molly may pursue the football coaching job if Dan Darwell has no objection.
Molly McGrath → Frank Needham
(Family Former Spouses In Custody Conflict)
The plot identifies Frank as Molly's ex-husband and says he seeks custody of the girls. At the hearing, Molly recalls caring for them largely on her o...
Alice Needham → Marian Needham
(Family Sisters)
The plot identifies Alice and Marian as Molly's two daughters.
Molly McGrath → Marian Needham
(Family Mother And Daughter)
The plot identifies Marian as Molly's daughter and describes Molly explaining her priorities to Marian when Marian questions the time she spends coach...
Molly McGrath → Alice Needham
(Family Mother And Daughter)
The plot says Molly balances coaching with caring for her daughters, Alice and Marian, and later describes Alice as one of the girls whose custody Fra...
Story Analysis
Molly balances the challenge of coaching a struggling football team with her responsibilities as a mother and an unresolved custody fight.
Plot Progression
A New Coaching Challenge
Family Support and Team Building
A Playoff Breakthrough
The Unresolved Custody Hearing
Directed by Michael Ritchie
Wildcats (1986) · 6.3/10 · comedy
Content sources
Related entry on
Wikidata
(Q26665), public domain (CC0).
Plot breakdown and analysis on this page are AI-generated from the title's synopsis and metadata.
