Why is a "coach in waiting" ......

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...any better than "promoting from within"?It seems to be the same mistake with a different name.

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Except that it is much more akin to purchasing contract options, rather than an outright job. You see, Florida State and Texas have agreements, in place, with assistant coaches currently on their staff. In one case (Jimbo) it was an enticement to accept the job, and another it was to discourage an assistant from seeking other HC opportunities (Muschamp). Coincidentally, both of these assistants coordinated LSU's 2003 National Championship season, and I am aware of no other high profile "Coaches in Waiting", though there certainly may be some.

Now, having said that neither FSU, nor Texas "has" to hire Jimbo or Muschamp when the time comes. There will simply be stipulated damages, maybe $1 million, maybe more, but much less expensive than getting into a bidding war with other schools over a HC prospect. Also, they get the benefit of some sort of salary cap if the coach is "promoted" to HC within 4 or 5 years, maybe indexed to national coaching average salaries, and/or conference coaching average salaries.

For the assistant, he will, at a minimum, get compensated for waiting, if he is ultimately not hired. Also, it will be very difficult for the same university administration to pull the trick in the future, if they back out of one. So it's kind of a trick you can only do once.

(As far as your point of it being a mistake, that will only happen if they ultimately go through with it. "I'm not going to be the next coach at Alabama.")

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So, it is not the same mistake, just the "option" to make the same mistake.

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Pretty much. All it is is a way to hang on to those assistants. Muschamp and Jimbo are in line to get the head coaching job. They don't want Muschamp to go get the Auburn job......so they act like he'll be head coach in a few years. Doesn't mean he will be.

Seems silly to me too.