The direct nuclear reaction (N,N'\ensuremath{\pi}) on light nuclei is investigated using an intermediate isobar model. Cross sections for this exclusive reaction are calculated in distorted-wave approximation, for an incident nucleon of energy 300--800 MeV scattering from a closed-shell target, where the final nucleon and pion are detected in coincidence. The residual nucleus is assumed to be in a particle-hole state of arbitrary angular momentum and isospin. This reaction permits a small momentum transfer to the nucleus (1 ${\mathrm{fm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$) so the nuclear structure is relatively well known. We study the dependence of these cross sections on several factors. The greatest sensitivity is to the self-energy of the intermediate meson. By considering different spin and parity nuclear final states, the nucleus is used as a spin-isospin filter allowing one to select certain amplitudes and study them independently. As an example, a detailed numerical study of the coincidence reaction on $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ is carried out. Such coincidence experiments may be useful for studying various aspects of the production and propagation of mesons and isobars in nuclei.