Real life analogy:
DII Kentucky Wesleyan has played in 18 DII Final Fours, winning 8 titles. If I were their coach, I'd consider a move to D1 Binghamton, Grambling or Texas-Pan American a temporary, and risky, step back. Temporary only if I were using it as a stepping stone to a better DI program. But risky because those programs rarely succeed.
Curiously, I looked back at their championship coaches:
Guy Strong left KWC for Eastern Kentucky (Ohio Valley), then 3 years at Oklahoma State before being fired. He then coached high school for 8 seasons before retiring
Bob Daniels went to Marshall for 5 years and was fired
Wayne Chapman resigned after winning the 1990 NT and never coached again. He's s now a scout for the Denver Nuggets. His son, Rex, played at UK and in the NBA
Ray Harper left KWC, amid recruiting violations, for NAIA's Oklahoma City. He then became an assistant at Western Kentucky, was promoted to interim coach in Feb. 2012 and led them to the NCAA tourney. They won a play-in game over Mississippi Valley, then lost to Kentucky in the first round. THis season, they're 14-14 and in 6th place in the Sun Belt.
Mike Pollio went to VCU (4 seasons) and Eastern Kentucky (4 seasons). He then became the commissioner of the Mid-South Conference (NAIA)
2/23/2013 5:55 AM (edited)