Is this the case anymore for CFB though? There are some programs where there almost is no salary cap, just a wish list. But the vast majority of places are in a completely different game. Managing the pool of funds, shopping for talent/value balance in the portal, roster management, negotiating with players/recruits, tinkering with the ideal ratio of HS to portal….this looks a lot more like an NFL GM job where the Belicek model is rare.
And its skill sets that are different from what a college coach has traditionally needed. The HC will be a voice in the room, but may no longer need to be the final one.
The new thing Stanford is trying is unprecedented, to my knowledge. The HC will be under him. I think it’s an idea worth trying for sure and Stanford + Drew Luck is an intriguing place and way to do it. Luck is going to “run football,” not implement what the HC says like other college “GMs.”
I am not saying it’s a guaranteed success, I just think it’s an idea that needs to be put into practice.