Point of my OP is that Utah isn't a dumpster fire. Smith has proven he can coach at 2 jobs now. Pac 12 isn't the Big 12. It had a big year in the dance last year but most years the Pac 12 isnt that scary.
If you take away any coaches best players then none of them have success. It's like saying Pope has a lot to prove because he was able to have 3 all conference players his first year and an all American / elite defender last year.
You could argue Smith has proven just as much as Pope as a HC (even though I think Pope is better)