At what age...

30... I don't know if you can be completely ready for anything until you actually do it. It's kinda like being a parent. You don't know what you're getting into until that day actually comes. With that said you can be more or less prepared.

I took my first HC job when I was 29 years old. I did a couple of years as an assistant at the HS level then took a 1AA college job for a few years because I felt that it would give me a better insight. Both were invaluable and after 6 years as an assistant I felt good about my preparation.

To the second part of the question, there is NO WAY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE OTHER THAN LIVING IT!! You can't buy it, you can't fake it, you can't wing it....you just have to go through it. I don't know that there is an age that is too young, but there is definitely a maturity level issue that must be met before taking a HC job.

Many of the young guys coming out today (not all, so don't any of you young guys get upset) think it is all about X's and O's. Nothing caould be further from the truth. Great organizational skills, excellent knowledge of Strength and Speed training, understanding the fundamentals and techniques for ALL positions and on BOTH sides of the ball, knowledge of effective special teams play, and most importantly having LEADERSHIP skills are all vital. There are a lot of smart guys our there who are great position coaches or coordianators....just not necessarily leaders.

The othere factor is great and tireless work ethic. I have seen some coaches recently who think washing uniforms, cleaning the locker room and painting the practice field is beneath them. Just the facts.

I was 23 when I got my first HC job in baseball. 29 in football. The first response said exactly what I was thinking...it's like having a child you are never ready.

I took a program over a 5A program at the age of 29 and let's be honest there is a reason they hired a 29 year old. Just like when I had my first child I have to deal with a lot of crap but my wife can't do quite as much to help me on this front. And just like with my child as much as somethings frustrate me I love being a head coach!

I was 22 when I first started calling offensive plays for my former HC at my alma marter. I'm glad he had faith in me to put me in that position...but I was far too young, and thought I knew far too much. I was a "plays" guy...and was not good at all with fundamental football.

Many young coaches make the same mistake.

I'm certain now that we lost games because of me.

The youngest Head Coach I knew of was 23, it took him 5 years before he had a winning season but he also took over one of the worst programs in the state of Michigan. I knew of some others who were 25, 26, 27 ish.

I was an OC at 22 but I definently had and still do have my trials and errors. The best thing I did though was learn under GREAT coaches who taught me more than the X and O's but the details of running a successful program

21 when i got hired as JV HC/OC (looking back I did a good job as an OC, not as a HC... we set school scoring record, but there are so many things I should have done differently as a HC, but hey it was a great learning experience)

23 now (24 in the spring) and it looks like I'll be the varsity OC next year...I definitely feel like I'm ready, but I'm sure in a year Ill be telling you how dumb I was and all that i learned

30-Varsity DC. Heck I stuck around in college until I was 25 (and happy I did). You can be ready, and in that same vein you can be too young, but it depends on the person. I know some guys who took over programs in their mid 20s; as obvious from what I wrote above, I wouldve been too young for that.

OC at 26 - wasn't anywhere near ready, but the opportunity presented itself so I ran with it. I had some success in year one, but struggled mightily in year two. Delegating responsibilities to an offensive staff comprised of coaches that were all at least 10 years older than me was one of the most difficult things I've done professionally. It's possible to have success, but the longer we are in the game, the better we'll be.

I just completed my first year as a DC. I am 27. I have been an Offensive line coach since I was 22 years old. Have to agree it is all about the experience.

OC at 22, DC at 24, OC again at 26. Was hired when I was 27 as the HC, turned 28 a month later and had our first season this year.

You can never be fully ready for a HC job even though I was the assistant HC for 5 years prior to getting a HC job, I learned a ton this year about it not being about what I know, but what my staff can teach to the kids. As a coordinator I always had to only have one side of the ball to worry about so my workload tripled.

I'll never regret making the jumps I did. Moved to CA at age 24 with my buddy to be his DC and met my wife out there. Lived there for 4 years and learned from 2 different HC's and now I am back in SLC area where I grew up and am the youngest head coach in the top 3 divisions of football here.

I was a special teams coordinator at a small high school (250 kids) at 19. Defensive coordinator of a large high school (2000) kids at 20. Head coach at a high school at 23. I was probably the most ready for the DC job and was the least ready for the head coaching job.

Got my first OC job at 22 while student teaching. Great experience. Left after a year for a teaching job. Finally got my second OC job this past year at 28. I am now in the running for my first head job at the same school at 29. My first OC job was a great experience but the difference between now and then was I now have built my own offensive philosophy instead of installing what I ran in high school. Excited about the possibility of the Head job, at every coaching job I have tried to learn as much as possible to the point I might have annoyed coaches but I think they understood.

Became head coach for first time at 25.

Now I had good background-experience for that age but the amount of what I didn't know is staggering.

Heck I look back at myself at 40 and wish I knew then what I know now.

DC at a small school at 24, HC at same school last year at 26. So much time was spent at the administrative end of things. I was ready with X's and O's, but the time spent with all the other off the field stuff surprised me and I learned on the run.

BE ORGANIZED!!!