Auburn has had success in the past with hiring former Iowa State faculty — enter Gene Chizik — and it now welcomes its new president in Steven Leath. Leath had spent five-and-a-half years in Ames, IA, where the Cyclones failed to post a winning record following his implementation in 2012. Whether he will impact the course of Auburn football, as his reputation with the sport would imply rough patches in success ahead.
Comparing Leath to whatever Chizik could or should have been is entirely irrelevant. Leath will have no say in what happens on the field or, as it seems, on the basketball court.