<Li> Zooey Deschanel as Jessica "Jess" Christopher Day, a bubbly, offbeat teacher in her early thirties who is originally from Portland, Oregon . In the pilot episode, she moves into the guys' apartment where Nick, Schmidt, and Coach help her move on from a painful break - up with her boyfriend, Spencer . </Li> <Li> Jake Johnson as Nicholas "Nick" Miller, a perennial slacker and grumpy young man who is originally from Chicago . He is introduced as a law school drop - out who supports himself by working as a bartender and still struggles from a break - up with his long - term girlfriend Caroline . Nick completes writing his first book in season six . </Li> <Li> Max Greenfield as Winston Saint - Marie Schmidt, an overly confident, Jewish ladies' man who is originally from Long Island . Schmidt met Nick in college while attending Syracuse University, when he was an overweight virgin . Since then he has lost weight, worked hard to revamp his image, and turned into a womanizer . Schmidt is snobbish, uptight, a control freak and a germophobe . Career-wise he is a successful marketing associate in a female - dominated office . He eventually marries Jess' friend Cece . Schmidt's first name is a long - kept secret of the series, until the second - to - last episode of season six "San Diego" in which it is revealed to be Winston . </Li> <Li> Damon Wayans Jr. as Coach (seasons 1 & 4; recurring season 3; special guest seasons 5 & 6), a cocky and driven (yet sometimes awkward) former athlete who now works as a personal trainer . After a break - up with his girlfriend, Coach returns to the loft after two years away and reintegrates himself back into the lives of his former roommates . Wayans, Jr. once again departed the main cast this time at the end of season 4 but returns sporadically after that . </Li>

What college did nick and schmidt go to