How many schools just simply go and hire "real elite coaches"? Let's start with everyone's favorite trio...Saban,Meyer and Harbaugh. Each one of their respective hires was the result of failure. Saban was actually a last minute recovery from Rich Rodriguez reneging to stay at West Virginia. Saban's availability was the result of his poor choice of Daunte Culpepper over Drew Brees. Pick the right franchise QB and Saban may still be in the NFL and which Mike Price,Mike Dubose or Mike Shula upgrade would've been "elite"? Meyer's availability for Ohio State was the result of HIS failure to recruit for the eventuality of Tim Tebow's graduation. He had a bunch of 5 stars that didn't fit and wasn't willing to dent his "elite" status for the necessary reconfiguration...so his heart "went to shizz" and he bailed right as Jim Tressell lost control of the machine in Columbus. Political correct pause for one year with ESPN and "suddenly" Ohio State simply was willing "to pay for an elite coach". Tailor made (actually manufactured) situation right there, so question...which "elite coach" would Ohio State have snapped up if the two aforementioned failures hadn't occurred? I'll finish with Harbaugh and Michigan. Willing to "pay elite coaches" as they were, why hadn't they? Rodriguez was on the fast track for that status but not there yet...Michigan jumped the gun because? Lloyd Carr FAILED against Appy State and the fans VNed him...creating an instant demand. That elite coach eluded them until the brain trust of the 49ers bristled at the caustic manner of their highly successful coach and made him available (to his alma mater or he'd have snapped up another NFL gig, easily).
They're called "elite coaches" because they're the select best. They're also not generally available to JUST HIRE. Every one of them started out as struggling ole regular coaches and DEVELOPED elite status. The usual route to land one is to hire them when they ain't and let them get that badge. Texas just did that with Herman. Sorry for the tldr, but I couldn't trash your simple point with fewer words Cat.