Mike Houston coached a D1-AA team in the CAA. Cignetti coached a team that weathered the COVID shortened season then successfully moved to the FBS Sun Belt and immediately won it-twice. Houston also laid a huge turd when he moved up to ECU.
I’m not focused on a couple played from the Clemson game. I’ve watched Narduzzi’s clownery on Saturdays for 10 seasons. He’s not a serious man, and he’s not a serious coach, and that’s reflected in the way his teams play. He’s a knucklehead.
As for the staying power, you might be right. But Cignetti’s instant success has IU opening the purse strings and making a commitment to trying to become a factor. They won’t ever recruit too HS talent. But they will be able to buy a lot of good portal guys every year.
The more interesting question will be to see how he does when he loses Shanahan to a bigger better job.