YOUTH FOOTBALL AVENGERS' WINNING FORMULA FOUND BY YOUNG ADMINISTRATORS.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The coach is a 32-year-old Manhattan Beach bachelor younger even than his newest wide receiver. The owner is referred to as ``Mr. Wasserman'' by his players even though he's only six years removed from attending political-science classes at UCLA.

And the director of football operations, at 26, found himself negotiating a player contract against his father before the season started.

Welcome to the Arena Football League-leading Avengers, owners of a 8-2 record entering Sunday's showdown against the Arizona Rattlers and, it's believed, the youngest organization in all of professional sports in the United States.

With 28-year-old owner Casey Wasserman at the top and Ed Hodgkiss as coach, none of the Avengers' leading front-office officials and coaches is older than 40. Director of football operations Kevin Demoff is 26, player personnel director Brent Winter just turned 35 and team president Todd Merkow is 38.

``I'm a strong believer in hiring people who are willing to take chances,'' Wasserman said. ``I didn't want people who had made their reputations with other teams and other leagues. I didn't want any retreads. We wanted to make our own mistakes.''

It's a model not likely to be replicated by another team any time soon. But it has worked this season for the Avengers, in their fourth year of existence.

``You're not going to find it in the NFL or college football,'' Hodgkiss said. ``But this is a young league and there are a lot of opportunities for young people.''

The organization has taken its lead from Wasserman, the grandson of former MCA Universal movie mogul Lou Wasserman. The younger Wasserman purchased the expansion Avengers two years out of college at age 24, becoming the youngest owner in professional sports.

One of Wasserman's first moves was to tap Demoff - the son of longtime NFL agent Marvin Demoff - to help the Avengers navigate the league's salary cap. He then hired Hodgkiss, the Indiana Firebirds offensive coordinator, as coach in October 2001.

Both fit the Wasserman profile perfectly. Demoff never had worked in professional football but was recommended by Oakland Raiders executive Bruce Allen. Hodgkiss, meanwhile, never had been a head coach at any level but had the reputation as one of the league's brightest minds.

The pair's success has belied their age, but there are frequent reminders of how young those who run the Avengers really are.

In his office, Hodgkiss keeps a radio tuned to 103.1 FM, known as ``The NEW Party Station'' by its promos. The coach has been listening to the all-club music mix for more than a month now, he said.

Demoff was in the peculiar position before the season of negotiating a contract for rookie defensive specialist Damen Wheeler against his father.

The talks lasted nearly two weeks before Wheeler signed.

``It was definitely a unique situation,'' Demoff said. ``But there were no sticking points. It was a fairly smooth process.''

The most visible face to fans is that of Hodgkiss, who admitted he never thought about becoming a head coach in his 30s. Hodgkiss is not the Arena League's youngest coach - that distinction belongs to Georgia's Marty Lowe, 31 - but his coaching stock is on the rise after compiling a 16-8 record in two years with the Avengers.

In a typical week, Hodgkiss installs up to 75 new plays, all based on the team's original formations. The Avengers also have won four games on their final play, perhaps a testament to Hodgkiss' game management.

``The formula is hard work,'' said Hodgkiss, who arrives at his West Los Angeles College office most days at 6:30 a.m. ``If you work hard, it doesn't matter what age you are.''

The toughest challenge for those running the Avengers is how to draw a line between themselves and the players, many of whom are their peers in age. For example, the players are under strict orders to stay out of Manhattan Beach, where Hodgkiss lives and frequents nightspots.

The Avengers also have succeeded even though they they lack a true veteran voice. Defensive coordinator Doug Kay - who has spent four decades in coaching - came aboard before the season. But Kay said he was hired not to provide an older presence but to help strengthen the team's defense.

``They weren't just going to wheel in some 83-year-old,'' Kay said. ``They didn't feel they needed that.''

No one would be surprised if Wasserman, Hodgkiss and Demoff all moved to the next level one day, although for now they have committed to running the Avengers in similar fashion to an NFL team.

Wasserman has set a goal of bringing an NFL franchise to Los Angeles. Demoff, meanwhile, would like to become an NFL general manager. The wild card is Hodgkiss, who said he is content to stay in the Arena League for the rest of his career.

Hodgkiss signed a five-year contract extension with the Avengers after last season. However, after turning around a team that never before had won five games in a season, he might be too successful to hold back.

Demoff predicted Hodgkiss will be considered for a job as an NFL position coach in the near future.

``He has his whole future ahead of him,'' Demoff said. ``I can't imagine anyone at age 32 whose coaching future is as bright as his. It's all going to be how he chooses his career path.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Avengers coach Ed Hodgkiss, right, at 32 is part of a youthful organization which has no top administrators over 40.

(2) Avengers owner Casey Wasserman, 28, became the youngest owner in pro sports when he bought the team at age 24.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer