I don’t think it is complicated. Koll spent 30 years at Cornell and built it as far as he could take it. He wasn’t going to catch Penn State, so he wanted a challenge and thought he could help Stanford. Covid probably did reduce his loyalty toward Cornell, they did not let them compete in 2021.
He goes to Stanford and it doesn’t work out. He has a unique opportunity to go to his Alma Mater and he takes it. It seems like he made good decisions. The wrestling community is lucky to have him.