...including me...that Niele should hire the best person available. Absolutely.

I'm just seeing a pattern of going with whom/what she knows.
With coaches, Muffet started hiring former ND players (Niele, Beth Morgan Cunningham) and/or rehiring previous assistants (Coach O, Angie Pottoff as director of operations).

BTW, a lot of the players I've listed have built their own resumes. Charel Allen and Ashley Barlow have both been in this business more than a decade and have many years as assistants. They are adding value to their programs. Whether Niele thinks it's the right kind of value for ND, she'll determine.

I'll be interested in seeing what direction she goes.