Thinking on it, I'm not sure either Chesney or Suraci would take the UCONN job not because it would not be a step up professionally but because they're working for institutions that make their priorities quite clear and transparent: academics first, athletics second. The UCONN administration seems to be on the fence, wanting it both ways. I firmly believe that given his way Benedict would be doing a whole lot more to upgrade the program, including aggressively lobbying the donor base. But I also think he has to be very careful of running afoul of Herbst, who after all IS his boss and for whatever reason doesn't want athletics occupying too much a place in the school's portfolio messaging. I have no idea why this is. UCONN is at best a top 25 public academic institution, not even close to the rarefied Ivy air it seems to aspire to and really not within spitting distance of the more highly ranked publics like Michigan, UCLA, Texas and UVA. Before we can move forward some people are going to have to be honest with themselves about what comes first or even in tandem, or we'll never make any progress.
I believe that Katsoulias was much more closely aligned with Benedict and if the Board hadn't conspired to get rid of him things would already be moving in a positive direction with the program.
Oh and for God's sake, just start recruiting three stars and even the odd four star, will ya? We might not have success immediately, or even within three years. But the efforts will eventually pay off. If you want to fight with the (semi) big boys then you have to start playing in their sandbox. Just do it. I really don't care who the next HC is so long as they are an AGGRESSIVE recruiter.
Like to the point where if part of the NIL package you have to offer that four star QB from New Jersey includes a sponsorship deal with The Gold Club, fine just get it done. It's only money baby.
