I fully believe Campbell is a hell of a coach, but how exactly is he such a better hire because of recruiting?
Performance - how many 4/5 stars was he stealing from the big boys? Pretty sure he built his rep and wins off doing more with less and landing more 3 stars in the state of Iowa.
Reputation - I know the coaching junkies and CFB enthusiasts love him, but how many west coast kids are watching Iowa State football? How many west coast HS coaches know him?
Not saying DeBoer is a better coach than Campbell, don’t twist - but to say Campbell’s a major upgrade in recruiting doesn’t really add up.
People have the tendency to treat recruiting like it’s some secret sauce when 90+% of it is hard work, persistence, prioritization, and relationships. Most coaches at all college levels that have impressive winning records work hard in all aspects, including recruiting.