[JohnR34231]

So, if I read your comment correctly, Shaw is not a top tier coach in your opinion. If he were great or top tier, he would have wanted to challenge himself at the highest level, either at other programs or the NFL. Since Shaw has not, he is happily complacent at Stanford and mediocrity.

Fair point indeed.

And that is the cautionary tale.   Top tier coaches are not common, cheap or loyal to Stanford.   Very few of those top tier coaches could succeed at Stanford given its geographic location, academic standards, and small fan base.   And those coaches that do succeed at Stanford then become very appealing to the NFL because NFL teams understand just how hard it is to win at Stanford.

The NFL offers a chance for those super successful type coaches to test their skills against the very best coaches in football.   If they are that great it will be a challenge they will not turn down and will likely take after a couple of decent years at Stanford (see...Walsh, Green, Harbaugh).

Shaw says he knows a lot of people coaching in the NFL and they are not having nearly as much fun as he is (although possibly not now).
So I wouldn't assume the reason Shaw hasn't gone to the NFL is that he is content to wallow in mediocrity.

Why not then, because he is afraid to be held to the high expectations of the NFL or top tier programs?

Maybe he just enjoys coaching college football at Stanford. After all he has been in the NFL before. He knows what it is like.
As far as not being held to high expectations is concerned, maybe the athletic department doesn't, but there sure are plenty of fans who do.
It almost sounds like you are saying you wouldn't want a coach who didn't leave Stanford after he had some success because he would be afraid to be held to high expectations and coach against the best.
Can't agree there.

[JohnR34231]

So, if I read your comment correctly, Shaw is not a top tier coach in your opinion. If he were great or top tier, he would have wanted to challenge himself at the highest level, either at other programs or the NFL. Since Shaw has not, he is happily complacent at Stanford and mediocrity.

Fair point indeed.

And that is the cautionary tale.   Top tier coaches are not common, cheap or loyal to Stanford.   Very few of those top tier coaches could succeed at Stanford given its geographic location, academic standards, and small fan base.   And those coaches that do succeed at Stanford then become very appealing to the NFL because NFL teams understand just how hard it is to win at Stanford.

The NFL offers a chance for those super successful type coaches to test their skills against the very best coaches in football.   If they are that great it will be a challenge they will not turn down and will likely take after a couple of decent years at Stanford (see...Walsh, Green, Harbaugh).

Shaw says he knows a lot of people coaching in the NFL and they are not having nearly as much fun as he is (although possibly not now).
So I wouldn't assume the reason Shaw hasn't gone to the NFL is that he is content to wallow in mediocrity.

Why not then, because he is afraid to be held to the high expectations of the NFL or top tier programs?

Maybe he just enjoys coaching college football at Stanford. After all he has been in the NFL before. He knows what it is like.
As far as not being held to high expectations is concerned, maybe the athletic department doesn't, but there sure are plenty of fans who do.
It almost sounds like you are saying you wouldn't want a coach who didn't leave Stanford after he had some success because he would be afraid to be held to high expectations and coach against the best.
Can't agree there.