Here is were you have to be careful with the idea of just throwing big salary at coaches at higher programs. When they turn you down, you will be the same fans calling the job search a dumpster fire. Even though you want us to make a big money move, you will turn on the search when / if it does not work. When they all turn you down and you drop down to the correct pool of coaches that likely will come, you just set a salary expectation that you end up over paying for those type of coaches. You go throwing around a $9 MIL figure and end up with a coordinator you could have got for $3 - 4 MIL but end up paying $5-6 MIL for.

If you have a P5 HC that is a legit option AND reaches out or is willing to talk and negotiate, fine. You absolutely do that for that one coach but you had better have a clear picture of what your coaching pool reality is prior and move quickly into that pool if the big hire doesn't happen. You don't want a prolonged TN type of shit show search.

Honestly, unless I have one that is seriously interested like Leach was, I go straight to a Lebby. He has the credentials of what you look for that has a higher chance of success than most other realistic options in our pool. Still a crap shoot but the credentials are there to lower the risk of a bust.