I understand what you are saying. I would say there is more to being a successful coach than just imparting the techniques that made you a champion. I guess we will find out if this is a good hire or not. At least we know he is a good character guy and has walked the walk himself. That's a good start.
Ness' last NCAA season was 2010. In the last ten years, I don't recall his international career full of entertaining highlights, but I could be wrong. I think injury derailed his Olympic hopes.
It’s interesting that Donny takes over for Tanelli at Columbia. Tanelli was seven or eight years behind Donny at UW. Was Donny holding out for a bigger job, or did Tanelli make Columbia a more desirable job?