Entry level, just so we're clear, is GA. He deserved to be a head coach somewhere because he had a resume that included ST coordinator, and learning directly under more future half of game coach than just about anyone. But Smart is a first time head coach, Barry Switzer's first Head Coach job was at OU. Now you tell me what crossover DC or OC has with HC that ST coach doesn't. That's an old way of thinking that you need to master your own offense or dedense and just hire the right guy for the other side of the ball.
HC is a CEO, and hiring an OC is like getting a creative for the role bexause hes good at advertisement. The jib is general management, he knows how to coach every position so he knows what he wants. Second, you have to be a great recruiter, he is that. Third, to win here, you need a good plan and to be able o five taken, hes found great talent, just look at how many guys we offer as 3 stars that either turn into blue-chips later or make impacts in college. As far as having a vision and plan, he goes on the base defense year one almost every team in the SEC has moved to since then, just didn't always have the best guys to execute it, and his emphasis on the DMV has already gotten us some of our most talebted young players. And he needs charisma, check. Dabo Swinney was a career WR coach. But, the real key point is that some guys just got it. Do you think Ray Tanner gained something between his time from when NCSU hired him until we did that he just turned into a great in that time and wasn't before then? Coach Paris got us to the dance year 2, and he didnt have the most stellar resume, he was just good. You got a future star and you think OC or DC is so important you ignore he gave us the biggest margin of victory an unranked team had against a top 10, and then upset Clemson in their house the next week. He assembled the best OL talent we've ever assembled in back to back classes. But you want to throw in the towel before year 4? Dude, cool. We will go bowling this year. From there, if we fail it'll have more to do with retention in the face of NIL than who's steering the ship.