[Goose]

I think USD, Stanford, 49ers, and Michigan is far more evidence/variety of levels when it comes to succeeding at all levels than USC and Seahawks, not to mention the point about Carroll failing in the NFL before succeeding later in his career. Carroll has succeeded at two levels, Harbaugh three, and far greater variety of situations.

You are correct, although I think it points out that the metrics are difficult to define. The situations were all materially different. What works in one situation does not work in another. In many cases (IMHO at least) coaching success is often a matter of the stars aligning. One might ask, for example, what would have happened at Stanford if Toby were not already on the roster? You have to be a good coach to take advantage of the situation, but some situations are much "easier" than others. JH certainly benefited from relatively low expectations when he arrived at three of these levels. The teams were not good and were not expected to be good. Michigan was different, there were very high expectations. Carroll was under pressure at U$C from day 1, especially because he was the third choice. Apples and pears.

[Goose]

I think USD, Stanford, 49ers, and Michigan is far more evidence/variety of levels when it comes to succeeding at all levels than USC and Seahawks, not to mention the point about Carroll failing in the NFL before succeeding later in his career. Carroll has succeeded at two levels, Harbaugh three, and far greater variety of situations.

You are correct, although I think it points out that the metrics are difficult to define. The situations were all materially different. What works in one situation does not work in another. In many cases (IMHO at least) coaching success is often a matter of the stars aligning. One might ask, for example, what would have happened at Stanford if Toby were not already on the roster? You have to be a good coach to take advantage of the situation, but some situations are much "easier" than others. JH certainly benefited from relatively low expectations when he arrived at three of these levels. The teams were not good and were not expected to be good. Michigan was different, there were very high expectations. Carroll was under pressure at U$C from day 1, especially because he was the third choice. Apples and pears.