Late nights and early mornings, film study and game planning, recruiting and booster glad-handing. The role of college football coaches is going to have to be filled by young guys.
Every athletics director is looking for the next young hotshot. The next face of the program. The guy with relentless energy and tireless work ethic, who can spend all of his time to create the program of the future and get the program to multiple bowl games.
Still, the role of college football coaches needs to be filled by guys with experience. Getting a coach who knows how to work the room, how to get a recruit’s family to side with you, and how to adapt to ever-changing players and the game’s evolution is crucial.
Fifteen schools have college football coaches who are at least 60 years old. One is older than 70.
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Oldest college football coaches in the country
| Coach | School | Age (birthday) |
| Mack Brown | North Carolina | 72 (Aug. 27, 1951) |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | 69 (Aug. 1, 1955) |
| K.C. Keeler | Sam Houston | 64 (July 26, 1959) |
| Kyle Whittingham | Utah | 63 (Nov. 21, 1959) |
| Biff Poggi | Charlotte | 63 (June 6, 1960) |
| Willie Fritz | Houston | 63 (Apr. 2, 1960) |
| Sam Pittman | Arkansas | 62 (Nov. 28, 1961) |
| Jim L. Mora | Massachusetts | 62 (Nov. 19, 1961) |
| Jeff Tedford | Fresno State | 62 (Nov. 2, 1961) |
| Brian Kelly | LSU | 62 (Oct. 25, 1961) |
| Kevin Wilson | Tulsa | 62 (Oct. 23, 1961 |
| Curt Cignetti | Indiana | 62 (June 2, 1961 |
| Jim McElwain | Central Michigan | 61 (March 1, 1962) |
| Chip Kelly | UCLA | 60 (Nov. 25, 1963) |
| Rich Rodriguez | Jacksonville St. | 60 (May 24, 1963) |
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Old college football coaches who are out of work after this season
This list just got a little shorter. After this regular season, five 60-year-olds were either fired, retired, or resigned.
Here is the list of the old guys who are out of work:
| Coach | School | Age (birthday) |
| Terry Bowden | UL-Monroe | 67 (Feb. 25, 1956) |
| Rick Stockstill | Middle Tennessee State | 65 (Dec. 23, 1957) |
| Craig Bohl | Wyoming | 65 (July 27, 1958) |
| Brady Hoke | San Diego State | 64 (Nov. 3, 1958) |
| Jerry Kill | New Mexico State | 62 (Aug. 24, 1961) |