There is a lot to unpack here so I hope I don’t ramble. 
 

Mentors: who you learned under has a huge affect on things. It’s hard to find good mentors. It’s had to be a good mentor. This is one area where a lot of up and comers are missing out on. Playing in a good program can set a base but being around good coaches and having enough sense to shut up and learn is a lacking quality. 
 

Admin/logistics: welcome to being the head guy because that’s a huge amount of the job. If you want to coach either 1) never become a head coach or 2) coach at a small school. KHSAA rules, district rules, building rules, redbook rules and so on. If you don’t know them front and back you are going to be in trouble. You better be able to handle logistics and there is a massive massive amount of that as the HC. There could be a multi page thread just in that. 
 

Assistants: finding, getting and keeping assistants is hard. It’s even harder to find really good ones. It makes a world of difference when you’ve got them. This goes back to my first point about mentors. As a younger HC can you mentor your staff both older and younger than you. 
 

You don’t know what you don’t know: you better be able to get guys that really know their stuff (not just Twitter coach speak) or you better learn it yourself. Honestly you need to learn it yourself because you never know. Weight room, special teams, offensive line and defensive line play, college recruiting and all facets of money. You’re going to learn real fast what you don’t know and often at the last minute. 
 

Learn, learn, learn: contact guys that are in similar setups. Douglas, St X, Trinity, Boyle and so on have amazing programs. A ton of schools in this state will never have the resources, support and other things these schools have. Just because you lifted a certain way in HS doesn’t mean that’s what you should do. You’ve got to learn about the CNS and development. You’ve got to learn what you can teach and figure out how to teach it. You’ve got to do more than Twitter, glazier and getting the new hottest all-22. Taking all the rip/Liz, Mabel, cone, pony, mint, 3rd level RPO might make you sound smart. You might legit know your stuff but can you teach it? Can your staff teach it? Do you even need to teach it?

Lastly you better understand that as a HC football is going to mean more to you than to the staff, players, school or community. If things go sideways then it’s you that is looking for a job and your family. It’s your face/name. Everyone else is going to move on without you. If you get that HC job then do it your way. Once it’s over you can at least stand by that instead of wishing you had been true to yourself. 

Great thread and I've enjoyed reading the remarks from everyone here. For me, there is no ideal age for a head coach. I think really, it just depends on the school, the fit, the expectations, the community, I could go on and on. 

I have always been a firm believer that the NFL sets the tone for the rest of football. Sean McVay was 30 years old when he was hired by the Rams as Head Coach. Without a doubt, he was coaching men older than he, and he had a staff full of assistant coaches who could have doubled his age. 

College coordinators are become younger by the day. 

Back to my point, it just depends on what you're looking for. High school legends like Dudley Hilton, Larry French, Chuck Smith, Sam Harp, etc etc are not available at most places. That's a fact. 

I think younger coaches are looking for more opportuities, right or wrong, and it's the responsibility of the middle-aged head coaches to begin training for the future. So what is the best age for a head coach? Who knows. 

@barrel said a whole lot there and is completely accurate.  I’ll add this, too, as I hinted some in my first post and that he also spoke on. 
 

When it comes to those wanting to be “coordinators”, especially young guys who are also aspiring to be head coaches.  You better be just as willing to be a “laundry coordinator”, an all things “Home game Friday field set up Coordinator” and all that goes on before kick off. If you don’t see the head coach sitting down, you shouldn’t be and even if he is? I guarantee there is a “chin strap that needs fixed Coordinator” or the freshman “Coach I don’t have a knee pad coordinator” needed, all things “bringing energy coordinator” (both positive and dropping the hammer when needed), being one of the “paint the fields coordinator”, a “little league coordinator” even if just popping by every now and then for a practice or game from time to time of time allows around your own children’s schedules and it doesn’t have to be a lot, a “I’m going to ODK, D/D, Hash, etc. Coordinator” on Hudl before the HC and/or Coordinators do, a “transportation coordinator” for underclassmen games and changes.

In doing all of these? Doing them in an “all in”, taking an initiative in doing so and not helping doing them so that you can say you did them to make you look good and while low key throwing the head coach under the bus to those few interested in hearing that.

As for the coaching age? I’m with you @NotMattJones, I don’t have a clue either. I don’t think there is one.  As you said, and you’re right, the NFL is a good barometer because if younger guys can do it at that age, at that level? Why not every level?

However, though, you look at the college game and it’s absolutely flooded with guys 50-70’s that are still at the top of there game. Be it Nick Saban or never has stopped, to Mack Brown who stepped away for what seemed like over 10 years or more, before coming back to UNC and making them relevant again.

Conversely? Mention hiring a 50-70 year old leading a Kentucky High School football program in some of the open job threads? And you’d think those guys are just ready to be moved out to pasture. They are exactly what Alabama, North Carolina and so many others need,  but they aren’t what “Joe Average (at very best) High School” in KY needs?

Makes sense (no sarcasm there at all).

Great thoughts by all and great thread!

Here is the problem with using the NFL as a barometer. What those guys have done to get to where they are at. The amount of time and work they have put in is huge. The people they have been around above them, climbing the ladder together and below them is a big difference. It’s like going through med school and a residency of football. All the time working for free or peanuts before making any real money. The same is true in college. 
 

In HS you are part GM, coach, in charge of field, equipment, HR, S&C, finance, mental and physical health. College and pros you are a high level manager. Might be the same sport but there are a ton of differences in the actual job. 

18 minutes ago, barrel said:

Here is the problem with using the NFL as a barometer. What those guys have done to get to where they are at. The amount of time and work they have put in is huge. The people they have been around above them, climbing the ladder together and below them is a big difference. It’s like going through med school and a residency of football. All the time working for free or peanuts before making any real money. The same is true in college. 
 

In HS you are part GM, coach, in charge of field, equipment, HR, S&C, finance, mental and physical health. College and pros you are a high level manager. Might be the same sport but there are a ton of differences in the actual job. 

Solid & accurate take right there.

*their game.

(In my next to last post)

4 hours ago, barrel said:

Here is the problem with using the NFL as a barometer. What those guys have done to get to where they are at. The amount of time and work they have put in is huge. The people they have been around above them, climbing the ladder together and below them is a big difference. It’s like going through med school and a residency of football. All the time working for free or peanuts before making any real money. The same is true in college. 
 

In HS you are part GM, coach, in charge of field, equipment, HR, S&C, finance, mental and physical health. College and pros you are a high level manager. Might be the same sport but there are a ton of differences in the actual job. 

Very good take. McVay has always stood out to me. Of course, he had opportunities at Washington so on and so on prior. There’s a lot to the process. I think KY is seeing a small shift right now in coaching. Not just in football, but I see it in basketball (boys and girls both). Some new positions are opening all across, some coaches are hanging up the whistle, and I think it’s important that older coaches are preparing and helping the younger guys along (As I know they already do.) From what I read on here and see on social media, KY and it’s high school coaches are doing things right. 

I feel that PLACE is more important than AGE. Many young coaches wind up at what I call "career graveyards". Due to lack of tradition, lack of interest, and lack of commitment at a school they are facing a huge uphill battle. If you are an assistant in a solid program learn all you can. Don't be in a hurry. If you earn the respect of your peers the right opportunity will happen!!

On 5/13/2023 at 8:51 AM, 9068 said:

I feel that PLACE is more important than AGE. Many young coaches wind up at what I call "career graveyards". Due to lack of tradition, lack of interest, and lack of commitment at a school they are facing a huge uphill battle. If you are an assistant in a solid program learn all you can. Don't be in a hurry. If you earn the respect of your peers the right opportunity will happen!!

To go off of what you said, A friend once told me that there are more good coaches than good jobs. In a market where the have's and have-not's are separating further and further, and there are more have-not's around, I'd say the outlook has changed. Now, with the prospects of landing a great job out of the gate very small, guys are more eager to take a shot at it on their own early and leave their mark. Often times at multiple stops before landing "the job". 

Make no mistake, the fact that there are less people getting into education, and therefore coaching, means there are more opportunities for young people to try their hand where they would have been passed over for experience in the past. I am the only teacher/ football coach in my entire district, despite my best efforts, which is scary. Across all sports, there were only 4 teacher/coaches in our entire school this year (3A size). I recognize there are many other factors at play in my district, but I'm sure this trend is being seen at other small, rural districts as well. 

Take head coach age as an indicator that there has been a shift in education. If we do not change something and start recruiting and retaining young men into the profession of teaching/coaching, the talent pool for coaches will decrease even further. So often we see in these threads people wishing their next HC to be in the building, which IMO is essential, but that will go from a requirement to a luxury in most places. The next thread won't be about HC Age, but HC's in other careers that allow them to perform the extra 40-50 hours of work each week required to lead a football program. Coincidentally, if you know of any careers like that, feel free to post them here... ?