I coached 2 seasons at D2, 22-11 the second year and went to 3rd round of PI. Not enough to qualify for D1. How many seasons do you need?? Thanks in advance!!

You'll probably need a couple seasons where you make the NT, but even that may only qualify you for the D1 bottom feeders.  And a word of warning, the way the new recruits are being generated, being at a low level D1 school may not be the way to go right now.  You may want to have a bit of an extended run of success at D2 and try for a mid-major type school instead.

FWIW, it's possible to jump straight from D2 into a BCS conference (I've done it myself a couple of times), but that takes some serious D2 time and four seasons of deep NT runs.  Timing is everything if you're gonna try to do that.

No more than 2, but I did it with back to back Sweet 16 seasons.  If you win and make the 2nd round you should be in. 

I went with just three D3 seasons in Knight, but I'm pretty sure they closed that loophole.  

it is all about the NT - the quicker you make deep NT runs, the quicker you will get to DI.  without deep (3rd round at least) NT runs, you will be at DII possibly 5-6 seasons at least.  earlier in Smith, I went 5 seasons at DII BYU-Hawaii and was not eligible for DI.  i believe i was eligible for a few DI jobs (really didn't look - no plans to go back to DI) this past offseason in Smith after 9 seasons at DII with just a 1st round NT exit.

I coached 6 seasons at D2, but miraculously made back to back NT appearances after winning the CT 2 years in a row, but back to back NT apps will get you in.