It definitely helped the acceptance of a new coach by keeping a legend on.

However, it did create this weird scenario where you didn't know how long Bud would be here; but always felt like there would be a transition.

Fast forward to the hindsight clearing up the picture. Bud and Wiles (discussed even by CC) were past the point of trying to recruit hard - new staff probably tries to hit the ground running. Push to 2018 - lack of backfill recruiting at the start forced a super young and frankly terrible defensive showing all season. End of that year, Bud's health issues surface.
2019 announces retirement beginning of the season. Tough to recruit when you know all year the staff is gone - especially when that staff was over the hill in recruiting interest.
2020 new staff - geared towards in state recruiting and alumni involvement! The Vid kicked that in the teeth. Those things sid seem to improve in 2020 and 2021 in comparison. However, with such a young staff I think Fu was pushed to 100% concentration on the defensive side. In doing so, the offense struggled lacking his oversight. We do know that Fu wanted Odom but we didn't have the money.

I'd mark the 2018 defense as a shift in philosophy of Fu coaching as well. After that season - his offenses seemed more geared to slowing the pace, high efficiency (a standard focal point), less explosive plays, etc. By knee capping big plays and such, he did add TOP to try and keep the defense off the field; but I think it drove him too far in that direction. The controlled outcomes that some have spoken on would align with this theory.

All this to say, if its his DC day 1 - he could have power to fire - but for sure is owing it from day 1. Much harder to fire your OC if you know you can't get to that side of the ball because your defensive staff is struggling when you aren't there either.

Fu crafted some nails into his coffin...but many others were sitting in the lid and pre drilled for ease of entrance from the start.