[chuck32]

Why not try writing contributing to open source projects in your spare time? Maybe try and get a low-paid freelance job or two. Test the waters. Once you have contributed to opensource/done freelance projects you will find it MUCH easier to find a junior developer job since you have actual experience to draw upon.

You say you "spent all of my MBA (top 3) coding web apps instead of networking", where are those web apps? Are they still around? Put them together into a portfolio to showcase them to employers.

I was a hobbyist programming in my teens and now do it full time. I don't program anymore in my spare time since I spend 8 hours a day doing it but who cares? There are plenty of other hobbies to be had..

If you end up quitting your job to go into programming, how hard would it be to go back to your old line of work? If not very hard why not give full time coding a go? What do you have to lose?