I don't claim to know his future, but Steele walked in the middle of chaos and as far as I can tell, has acted very professionally and done everything Tennessee could have asked. He maintained communication with recruits and calmed many current players. He didn't bat 1.000... even Pruitt staying wouldn't have accomplished that. But he seems to have done his best to act in the best interest in the University of Tennessee.
At the time, I thought his hiring was an insurance policy, and he could add value regardless of how things worked out. Steele is like a Swiss army knife... a great tool to have when you don't know what you will need. He could serve as head coach, interim head coach, defensive coordinator, defensive position coach, analyst, effective recruiter... and could do a credible job at any of them. I though it made sense to bring him in. If Heupel trusts him and their visions match, I'd love to see him on staff in some capacity he finds rewarding. If not, UT knew when they hired him that this was a possibility and went ahead and invested the money. Steele had to see this possibility as well.
He is acting like a professional and should be treated with the commensurate level of respect whether or not he and the Vols part ways.