i think the o/d was originally random per school, but is consistent across worlds. so all uconns would be zone, etc. not positive though.
before 3.0, the sim used to just keep whatever set the old coach played. now if a good program has even just a 1 season sim ai gap, the simai often wrecks them with the off/def switch, which i think is a bad enhancement, making it that much harder of a rebuild. plus it makes that sim program much crappier the next couple seasons - previously, when good teams in good confs were left open for a season or two before filling, the simai at least did a half way competent job of coaching the quality players the old coach left. recruiting would be a mess but it wasn't like this instant drop off a cliff in terms of the next season.