Name a big name coach that UT has went out and hired in the last several decades? Fulmer took over when Major got sick. Dooley was a train wreck hire, Lane Kiffin has never done anything, Jones can break down film at Bama, and Pruitt got the job by default. They aren't lining up at the door to coach at UT.
The two best coaches UT has had in many years, were both Homer's (played at UT).. UT has proven to this point that they can't go out and hire a proven coach.
Who in college football can? Aren't a good percentage of college coaches homers at some point in their career? You mention the last several decades and that's an odd timeline as it's only been since Fulmer we've been cycling through subpar coaches. (Jury is still out for me on CJP, we'll see how it goes).
Seriously, how many truly elite college coaches are out there? 5? Maybe 10?
Nobody saved Nebraska yet. Harbaugh ain't gonna be the savior in Ann Arbor. Chip Kelly looked awful good at Oregon now what the hell is he doing? Coach O is riding last years coattails.
Landing an elite college coach is harder than in the NFL I think.
Either CJP will figure it out or we'll have to catch somebody on their way up the ladder, or somebody looking to drop back down from NFL to college.