Beauty before age

Evidently there’s a trend towards hiring younger head coaches going on.

When searching for a new head football coach, schools have been showing a greater desire to hire an up-and-comer, like Tom Herman or P.J. Fleck, rather than a veteran with a long record of success, such as Les Miles.

The average age of the head coaches hired by FBS teams last season was 43.2 years old, the youngest in the past six years. Eight of the 26 new hires were under 40 when they accepted the job.

In 2010 and 2011, the average age of the 48 coaches hired by FBS schools was a touch over 47, including eight under the age of 40.

Interesting, I guess.  But it’s the thinking behind the trend that’s so amusing.

Potential is often more appealing to those hiring a coach than an extensive resume, according to Daniel Parker, the vice president and managing director of sports for Parker Executive Search, based in Atlanta. Parker helps programs identify coaching candidates and hire them.

“Bringing in somebody that’s got a lot of energy, that’s going to change the program, recruit really well, work really hard, that does something for the fan base. It re-energizes the athletics department. Re-energizes the fans,” Parker said.

You know what a re-energized fan base means — mo’ money!

Best of all, if or when the young whippersnapper doesn’t work out, you can always dump him and find another young ‘un to re-energize the fans again.  Time it right and you can make winning championships almost irrelevant to your business plan.

And here I thought Greg McGarity was clueless.  Turns out he’s just a little ahead of the curve.

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