At the time Warde was hired, UConn was in an APR mess in the national media/perception. You can blame whoever you want for that but the heat UConn's creme program was getting as a result was very real. It's ironic that UConn was passed over by the ACC in part due to APR and they took UL instead, but I digress. Anyway, Warde's top job was to fix our academic reputation in our AD. He did.
His Diaco hire was not terrible. I might be crazy, but I still think that Diaco could (could could could could 1000x COULD) be successful if he had the right staff in place to support him. Diaco is a good recruiter for our area, a good motivator, and creates excitement around a program that has no business getting excited about. Let's be honest - most of football coaching comes from the assistant ranks. If he had the right staff - and make no mistake, his staff is 100% his responsibility - then Diaco could do the things he excels at: selling kids on UConn and generating headlines for the program. I would absolutely love to see how he'd motivate/recruit with a team that plays modern era football and was exciting with its on-field play.
Warde absolutely botched the KO initial contract but did engineer a good extension after 2014 that secured a better and longer future here. KO is a top 10 paid MBB coach and that's saying something for a G5 budget.
Honestly, the only negative that UConn has on its P5 profile is the football program. If Benedict can correct some of the past regimes mistakes and properly fund football (namely, assistant coach pool), then it would be hard for P5 conferences to continue to pass. We needed a good football year on the field and in the stands to convince the B12 that our distance would be worth while and neither happened. Football is our only negative in CR. Fix that and we check every P5 box and then guys like Warde and Benedict will be hailed as heroes.