Iron sharpens iron, a smart, ponytailed actuality tv contestant as soon as opined. And that contestant, Benjamin “Coach” Wade, believes he has lastly sharpened his sport after three unsuccessful makes an attempt on the Survivor crown and that he’ll lastly slay the sport when he hits the seashore for Survivor 50 (premiering Feb. 25 on CBS).

Coach reworked himself from one thing of an eccentric cartoon character on his first two outings (Tocantins, Heroes vs. Villains) to a reliable powerhouse who made all of it the way in which to the top of South Pacific, the place a jury of friends he burned alongside the way in which awarded the $1 million to Sophie Clarke as a substitute. (In fact, Coach stays Coach — a real actuality TV renaissance man, as stories of his Survivor 50 preseason antics have already develop into the stuff of legend.)

However the 54-year-old Coach insists he has discovered from his previous and is able to bust out a model new persona for his fourth strive on the title — the Tide Walker! Who, or what, is the Tide Walker? Coach informed us when he spoke with Leisure Weekly in Fiji simply days earlier than Survivor 50, and we’re nonetheless not fully positive!

However we do know this: If you wish to get pleasure from a deep-dive interview with a Survivor legend who calls himself a egocentric egomaniac who nearly went off the deep finish for what he mistakenly perceived as preferential remedy for Mike White and overtly brags about ignoring his non-disclosure settlement, then you could have come to proper place. He can also have some breaking information a few sure notorious jury home rock band. Think about your self slayed.

(That is one in every of 24 deep-dive, on-location interviews with the Survivor 50 solid. Hyperlinks to the opposite interviews can be posted on the backside of this text as they develop into out there.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What have you ever been as much as because you final performed Survivor?

BENJAMIN “COACH” WADE: I'm a married man. I've retired from faculty soccer teaching. Now I'm content material to teach all my youngsters' sports activities groups and I’m really a music trainer now. In order that's what's new in my life: three youngsters, married, new job, new occupation, all rolled up into how I'm going to play this sport.

Why are you right here, Coach?

Nice query. I really feel like I've mentioned no so many occasions. It felt so proper to say sure this time, nevertheless it didn't come simply. It was a few week from being formally requested a month in the past, and I referred to as [executive producer] Matt Van Wagenen and I mentioned, “I don't assume I'm going to do that, man. There's simply an excessive amount of using on me at house.” He mentioned, “You're going to remorse it the remainder of your life. I do know you. It's your selection, man. I'll help something.” And I actually admire him saying that.

That concern of remorse is a giant motivator in my life. It's very highly effective and I don't normally dwell with a second of it, however the occasions that I’ve remorse, it gnaws round my unconscious telling me lies — ought to have performed this, might have performed this. The remorse of not being out right here, that was primary.

I'm in such a special place now than I used to be final time, 13 years in the past, that I need to share that with the world. I'm so completely satisfied. I get up each morning and I'm similar to: God, how might you really bless me with this type of life? I don't deserve it. I definitely wasn't an awesome man after I was on Survivor — egomaniac, egocentric, and wished to steer from the highest. And in order that was one other a part of it, is simply to type of share that message with the world, these basic truths that I really feel like I've found.

And likewise, I need to win! I'm out right here to win this time. And I've not ever been in that mindset. I'm going to play the sport, I'm going to attempt to win. That's undoubtedly one of many three motivating elements for me being out right here.

You saying how you’re a totally different man once you performed the final occasions, once you look again on these seasons, what don't you want in what you see?

The primary season, it was an awesome likelihood to look in a mirror, which Survivor does in the event you let it, and say, “Oh man, am I actually that conceited ass? I imply, I can't be that pompous, am I?” And to say, “Let me mood that down a bit of bit and never take myself so severely. That's a flip off. I might need a loyal core, however I’ve acquired to be turning individuals off” — which I'm positive I nonetheless do.

The second time taught me the best reward, man: Don't give a rip about what different individuals say or take into consideration you. And it occurred after I used to be watching that season and I assumed: I don't care henceforth what different individuals say or take into consideration me.

Third season, that was the softening of everyone's notion of me. So I'm grateful for that, however I used to be very egocentric. I used to be not married. I used to be residing for myself. I actually thought the that means of life was if I can construct up sufficient championships on the soccer subject, if I can begin sufficient symphonies, be the very best at all the things that I do, I'm going to go away an superior legacy. And that's simply not true.

No one cares what I did on the soccer subject anymore. I modified some lives for positive, and I'm grateful for that. No one talks about that these days anymore. However they're going to speak about my youngsters's lives and so they're going to speak concerning the music program that I'm cementing proper now and the way it's altering a neighborhood. That's generational legacy, not simply private bulls— that all of us get caught up in. And in order that's one thing that's very totally different about me now.

So how does that change the way in which you play?

So I used to be very inflexible prior to now, very a lot pigeonholing honor and integrity. At occasions it was actually trustworthy. I imply, I did go up one million {dollars}. Cochran and Edna got here to me and mentioned, “Hey, you received the sport. Congratulations. We'll by no means flip on you. Simply take us to the top.” Edna mentioned, “I'm a coattail rider,” and Cochran mentioned, “I'm a flipper. They received't vote for me.”

And on the finish of the day, I turned down one million {dollars} to stay with my phrase and say, “No, I gave these 5 a promise and I gave these two a promise that we'd make it to the ultimate three.” And I did that on day 1 and it occurred, however I used to be hypocritical in the truth that I simply didn't personal it. And that’s the one remorse within the sport that I’ve is that I simply didn't say, “Hey, you understand what, guys? I did mislead you. I used to be dishonest once you had been voted out and I wanted to be trustworthy about that and I wasn't.”

So this time round, above all, I need to be fluid. I'm used to waking up each morning and placing myself on the underside of the totem pole and I freaking like it. There's no resentment in my coronary heart after I'm the man that packs the lunches, goes purchasing, I work all day lengthy, I come house and I begin cooking dinner. I prepare dinner dinner each evening. And I really like doing that. And so there's no resentment there, however I lead from the underside. And the one method that I used to know methods to lead, and it's actually cool as a result of I'm clear out right here what I'm doing in actual life — faculty soccer coach, a pastor of a church — the third time round individuals referred to as it a cult. It wasn't. However now we have that in widespread. So I used to be main a bit of bit via faith.

And this time?

This time, I'm main from the underside, and I can do this and I really feel comfy doing that. There's a extremely cool time period in Portuguese that the soccer gamers used to inform me, and it's the Malandro. And the Malandro is the man that’s not the person, however he makes everyone round him be the person. So I need to be that. I need to be main typically from the underside, not at all times on high. I need to have the ability to be fluid. I need to go as much as individuals who voted towards my needs in Tribal Council and be their pal.

That's the sport as we speak. It’s a a lot softer sport. And I believe that they admire authenticity now greater than ever. And so I'd like to make use of that to my benefit with the honorable individuals. Joe did an awesome service to me in 48 when he really performed that sort of sport with the values that I maintain expensive. However I believe that units the desk for an alliance of me and Colby and Joe and perhaps Jonathan and Stephenie, however that's not going to get me far.

There’s an historic Chinese language proverb that claims: A snake that doesn’t shed its personal pores and skin should die. And if I don't shed the pores and skin of my previous exploits, I'm not going to make it to the top. So I’ve to adapt and I’ve to choose these individuals like Aubry or Kamilla and even anyone like Kyle. The winners don't scare me. I've performed with winners earlier than. I've acquired to play with those who I wouldn't usually align with — weaker in the event you say bodily, however stronger strategically. That's at all times been my weak spot.

And that was one factor that basically helped me within the final time round was being with Sophie. Folks don't give her sufficient credit score. I do know individuals message me each freaking day, “You need to have received South Pacific, blah, blah, blah…” However Sophie was a really underrated participant and I wouldn't have made it to the top with out her. She was an awesome strategist that sharpened day by day with our rhetoric.

Your arc on South Pacific is so fascinating. You're seen as this tremendous eccentric character, however you then are available, you run the sport, you get denied on the finish. I do know you're a aggressive man, so how does that loss sit with you?

The day after I misplaced South Pacific, I began enjoying this sport. I didn't assume I used to be going to return again, however within the likelihood that I used to be going to return again right here, each single interview I've ever given, I’ve sandbagged it, saying “I can't win this sport,” whereas on the similar time fascinated by the errors that I made and the way I might play this sport in another way, I've by no means stopped enjoying.

I don't like most individuals. I don't like Boston Rob and any of those individuals the place this has develop into their id. Their entire id is caught up on this bulls—. So I don't like most individuals, however I speak to all of them as a result of I do know that it's going to provide me a foothold.

Carolyn acquired a Cameo from me. I didn't know who she was. I didn't watch her season. I did the music for her — most cost-effective music I've ever written, for 69 bucks — after which really she was like, “You’ve acquired to fulfill Ben Katzman. He's going to be on subsequent season”. And I used to be like, “I'm not into assembly new individuals.” However she gave me his quantity. We began speaking. I spotted he was like a brilliant freaking cool man. And he introduced me off of that mountain that I dwell.

I met Dee in his condominium with Wendell, didn't even know who she was. I met Kyle as a result of Kyle got here to one in every of his exhibits and had me signal his Payments jersey. I met Charlie via him. You’re the one one which is aware of this. No one else is aware of this. So I began placing my fingers in, and it appears a bit of bit predestined that this might be my shot to do it. And so it's actually cool that I’ve sufficient individuals now that I can begin to work with who perhaps you wouldn't have thought that I’d've labored with initially.

7:23 The Solid of ‘Survivor 50’ Reveals Who They Wish to Vote Out First

We’ve had the Coach, the Dragonslayer, and the Zenslayer. What’s your nickname going to be for season 50?

I've give you a bunch of nicknames for individuals. I don't need do the Arthurian legend stuff. I need to begin choosing stuff that's random, like Japanese mythology, perhaps some Dungeons & Dragons. To start with, I've acquired to be a wolf in sheep's clothes and that’s tattooed on my arm so far as the prophecy of the tribe of Benjamin. Don't name me that. Simply kidding. I imply…it’s although.

I need to play a wolf in sheep’s clothes at first after which let the wolf come out. And the timing of that’s impeccable and it'll decide whether or not I win or not. However finding out this stuff, there's this water druid that's referred to as the Tide Walker, and that's the individual that can transfer and move with the tide. And once they must go round obstacles or eradicate obstacles, they accomplish that gently.

And my mantra for this sport is to cover behind the defend whereas I'm sharpening my sword in silence. Previously it was, I'm making warfare out within the open — “Right here's my sword!" It's the alternative of that. I need to make warfare with a clear coronary heart, which I've tried to do, however I haven't admitted that I used to be making warfare.

So these are two mantras that I believe are actually near my coronary heart that I need to play the sport like that, to cover behind the defend at occasions and to sharpen the blade in silence and to make warfare, however with a clear coronary heart and on the similar time admitting that I'm making warfare. So perhaps the Tide Walker.

Watch cast members of 'Survivor 50' vote their first players out of the game (exclusive) On the beach for 'Survivor 50': An exclusive, all-access first look at the biggest season ever

Have you ever been finding out out of your well-known quote ebook whereas out right here to ship some confessional gems?

Man, you higher consider it! Pay attention, I'm not clever. I can converse, I'm fairly good with phrases, however man, I’m not sensible. However you higher consider I'm going to seem to be sensible and I'm going to get a bunch of quotes prepared.

What's your greatest weak spot heading into this sport as Coach 4.0?

One weak spot will not be having the ability to learn individuals. I'm so rattling good at it in my actual life, however out right here, I simply give individuals the doubt method an excessive amount of. And so I'm not going to go off in camp, Tyson informed me after Winners at Conflict, “Don’t go do Tai Chi,” which I cannot do. “Don’t give nicknames,” which I’ll. However he mentioned, “Simply sit at camp. Don't go off. Let individuals come to you.”

I've by no means been good at studying the room as a result of to be trustworthy, Dalton, there's a world out right here of which the digital camera's is on me and I need to carry out for it as a result of I'm a performer! So I don't take a look at the stuff in camp. I've acquired to get my head out of my ass and go searching and see who's speaking to who. And these individuals provide you with clues on a regular basis.

And what I imply is there's no idol planting. However by golly, if I'm strolling this manner and the cameraman stops following me, after which I flip again the opposite method and so they begin following me, then there have to be an idol there. And it type of dawned on me a bit of bit with questions that Jeff requested and questions that they're asking me [in confessional interviews].

And I used to be good at choosing up on that a bit of bit the final time, but when a gaggle of persons are speaking and so they begin saying one thing actually strategic, they get swarmed by cameras. But when they’re like “Oh, Dalton, let me let you know about my childhood,” the cameras are similar to, no matter. So I want to acknowledge that. And if there are 4 individuals speaking all the way down to the seashore, I acquired to get in and know what they're doing, not in an intrusive method.

So how a lot pre-gaming did you do, Coach? It's a query for all of the returning participant seasons with everybody DMing and texting and what have you ever.

This s— right here [at Ponderosa] wouldn't have flown with a number of the previous schoolers. They might've been like, “F—this. We're speaking.” After which they might've shushed us. It was a warfare at occasions. Yesterday, I mentioned out loud to the handler, “Has anyone ever simply gone f—ing loopy and simply run out of the tent?” We had been there for 11 or 12 hours. Man, this isn’t enjoyable. And I’ve a tough [time] sitting nonetheless anyway.

I really feel like I'm about prepared to simply stroll out of the tent. And everyone simply had their head down, they're little lambs, and I used to be everyone. There have been occasions once we had been on seasons and me and Boston Rob and Tyson, we'd be like, “F— that. Open the door. We acquired to go pee. That is bulls—!” Possibly they’re being good, however I do know that there's simply much more networking. So it's like, what are they actually doing? Are they obeying the foundations? Are they not?

I did perform a little pre-gaming. I reached out to Colby, and I simply mentioned, “Hey, let's go on the market and play honorably.” I had met Jonathan via Mike [Turner] some time again, and I simply mentioned, “Let's do it if you wish to do it.” So there actually wasn't quite a bit. Cirie adopted me at some point and I used to be like, “Hey, what's up, legend”? And she or he was like, “Yo, Coach, what's up?” And so actually, that's type of the extent of it.

Was there lots of pregaming earlier than Heroes vs. Villains? And in that case, did it find yourself matching as much as what really occurred once you guys acquired on the market?

It was a catastrophe. I didn't play with anyone. I used to be on the flawed tribe. Folks can say what they need to about Coach’s sport and that I've by no means actually been a great participant, however Heroes vs. Villains might have been utterly totally different. Pre-game, Colby was wetting himself to play with me. I talked to Rupert. I do know that Stephenie was eager to play with me. I talked to 2 or three individuals on that Heroes tribe that had been determined like JT, though he was filled with s—.

However JT was like, “Coach, it's your time to win, man. Let's get you to the top.” And I don't consider that, however I consider that he was honest and seeing me as an actual particular person. Tom Westman was one other one, He mentioned, “I don't desire a pre-game, however by golly, Coach, we see it the identical method.” And I hid behind a wall and talked to Rupert. And so there was this large contingency on the Heroes tribe. And in my deluded thoughts, I believe if I’d've been on Winners at Conflict, I believe that the old-fashioned would have regarded a lot safer. I believe I might have managed a greater job than Boston Rob making an attempt to bully everyone into submission.

So I primarily backed the flawed horse. Randy got here as much as me on the finale of Tocantins and mentioned, “If we make an alliance, no one would learn about it.” Tyson flew out to my home and we skilled collectively. However my mistake that I made in Heroes vs. Villains is that I at all times let Tyson do the speaking to Courtney, and I let Boston Rob do the speaking to Sandra. So this time round, I need to pollinate everyone. Large mistake I did at Heroes and Villains. I didn't make that mistake in South Pacific, and I received't make that mistake right here.

I need to meet individuals the place they're at. I need to take it to the subsequent stage. And I've ready opening introductions for everyone. Nearly like once you're that single man and also you're uncertain what to say once you're assembly a lady at a membership and also you've rehearsed a number of traces beforehand.

Hit me with some examples.

So Kamilla, for instance. I simply need to inform her thanks. I need to inform her thanks for preserving me related and for being that person who's nonetheless preserving the hope of the Dragonslayer alive. Joe, I need to inform him thanks for setting the desk and preaching about qualities that I maintain close to and expensive to my coronary heart.

Any person like Mike White, I like it when individuals say, “Oh, I don't watch Survivor.” Neither did I after I first was on the present. So for Mike, “Hey, man, I don't care an excessive amount of about The White Lotus. I'm definitely not making an attempt to be right here to get on that present.” Wink, wink, nod, nod. Subconsciously I'd go for cameo, however really, “Mike, what I’m right here for is enjoyable and also you're the one particular person out right here actually that has come out right here and been like a child once more and been true to coronary heart and working round simply making an attempt to have enjoyable. I need to have enjoyable with you.”

How do you assume the opposite gamers right here see you?

I’d say that in the event you would've requested that query 10 years in the past, individuals would've mentioned, it's a little bit of a joke, even with South Pacific. However I don't assume that they're saying that as we speak. And I used to be at Ben Katzman's condominium in Miami, and Dee and Wendell had been there, and Wendell mentioned, “These new-school individuals love you!” They speak about you in casting. They actually revere you.”

Possibly a bit of little bit of it was kissing my ass, however legends aren't made in a single season — except you're strolling round with a dragon cane and a faux limp and doing the Exile factor like I did, and calling your self the Dragonslayer and making up Japanese Samurai proverbs. Possibly you type of develop into a legend after one season, however normally it takes two to solidify anyone's legacy. So there's actually not lots of legends out right here. I do know Jeff loves Cirie and she or he's cool, however what else is she going to carry this time that she hasn't already? What's Ozzy going to carry that he hasn't? What's Colby going to carry that he hasn't? What's Stephenie going to carry that she hasn't?

I didn't even know which one was Jenna Lewis. I assumed that she was Genevieve! I by no means watched Genevieve play and I don't know Jenna Lewis, so I noticed her and I used to be similar to, “Oh, in order that's what Genevieve seems like.” After which at some point I noticed her bag and it mentioned Jenna. I'm similar to, you moron! So I believe that these persons are in all probability not in awe, perhaps a little in awe. They're like, “It’s actually cool that he's out right here and I’m wondering if he's for actual or not.” That's in all probability what they're saying.

You talked about a number of the individuals you need to work with. What concerning the individuals that you just're most cautious of?

I'm having flashbacks of Russell Hantz being at Ponderosa [for Heroes vs. Villains], and we didn't understand how he performed. I’m actually to the purpose of wanting to jot down notes to individuals saying, “The 49 individuals have gotten to go.” I don't understand how they performed. I heard that one in every of them received. They scare me as a result of they’ve a definite benefit on us.

They pulled Mike White yesterday from our tent once we had been ready for 11 hours and he left with two different individuals. And I mentioned: I'm going to resolve this as a result of this s— ain't flying! I don't care who he’s! If there's anyone getting particular remedy round right here, it higher be me. After which they let it slip a short while in the past and mentioned, “Oh, by the way in which, Mike and people individuals, they went to the opposite island doing the promo shoot that you just guys did yesterday.” And I used to be like: Okay, disaster averted. However I don't need anyone getting particular remedy and [the season 49 players] are getting particular remedy inadvertently.

Is there any a part of you that wishes to make it to the merge and get voted out and placed on the jury so you can begin one other unimaginable rock band?

Come on now. Hell no, man! Pay attention, I actually take no treatment. Okay, nicely… I introduced down right here one thing that's like Valium. I don't know what it's referred to as. It's blood stress medication and sleep stuff — simply in case I acquired voted out early and I'm sitting right here saying I'm losing my life away. I’d simply begin swimming within the ocean. I’d borrow a kayak from one in every of these native natives. You higher freaking get again right here for that. In case your Coach will get voted out, you higher fly again right here. If I see Dalton Ross, I'm getting a kayak. I'm f—ing going, man!

It will be actually arduous. However I’ll say this, and wasn't my social media good main up into this sport? Folks had been like, “Doesn't Coach have an NDA? Isn't he signing something?” I'm like, “F— that, man! And Jeff was like, “What do you concentrate on being on a legends season?” I mentioned, “Jeff, man, you guys have tried to copy me so many occasions. You failed up to now off the mark. There's no method that I'm not going to be on this season.” So I used to be freaking abusing no matter I signed.

Naturally.

However individuals say on a regular basis, “I’ll come see you on tour in case you are on tour.” And we’re going to work on an album. Ben Katzman can do it in sleep. He can actually play bass, drums, and all the things else and we are able to do a complete totally different album. I talked to Courtney, she's f—ing down. I don’t know what JT’s doing, however I'm positive he could be down. So dude, we're going to f—ing launch it!

If it weren't for me on season 50, it will be lifeless within the water. I imply, it's loopy that we didn't do extra after your article. That was with out query my favourite article that I've ever learn of something. It was about me, in fact.

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Different Survivor 50 deep dive participant interviews:
• Survivor 50 star Ozzy Lusth opens up about hitting 'all-time low of my life'
• Survivor 50 star Aubry Bracco opens up about the 'freedom when you fall from grace'
• Colby Donaldson reacts to playing Survivor for the first time without Jerri
• Angelina Keeley refused to do Survivor 50 unless they gave her a jacket