There are so many factors that make or break a head coach. In most cases the best HCs know the proper criteria for hiring assistants, including the most important aspect, recruiting.
Too often, the very ego that endears a HC to his employers with respect to confidence and knowledge, is his/her downfall because of an inability to step back and delegate.
The best coaches are often those that succeed at different places with different staff, because they recognize what is needed en total(staff, XsOs and recruits).
That said, I am not sure that the FBS/FCS G5/P5 dichotomies are as important as some think. Examples are Jim Tressell and Bill Curry. There are many more, especially in basketball.
As for ODU, many posters justifiably tout the early success of the program. However, that success was, in part anyway, the result of a "perfect storm" if you will.
1. The timely demise of Hofstra football
2. Very astute scheduling
3. Taylor Heinicke
Removal of #1 or #3 and IMHO, we are still in the CAA, with no defense and a good but not great offense.
Going back to the theme of the beginning of this post.
We have found an 'our system' QB and top receivers that have been able to reprise the Heinicke type of offense. IMHO it took too long for the coaches to recognize the fit. Indeed more than a few "lay" posters here saw it clearly (although I wouldn't characterize AimHigh as a lay poster by any means.)
However, I am afraid that BW is either unwilling or unable to that make the correct DC hire, and/or step back and delegate.
Our defense has been an abject failure since our first season, being able to play adequately only against very poor or certain specific types of offenses. Poor tackling, out of positions, and lack of gap coverage are recurrent themes. Now we even seem to be slower than ever before as well.
All programs go through ups and downs, and many of us expect next year to be one of the down rebuilding years. However, ten years of rebuilding our defense is unacceptable.
As an aside, how about ol' FCS-FBS Bill Clark at UAB?