Every coach is going to have players who love and hate him, but Kalani seems to have done a great job of parking himself at the well-liked end of the spectrum.

Makes sense that having a coach who other coaches publicly praise as a good and likable person, and for whom players seem to disproportionately enjoy playing, and who is kind and gracious to opponents (including personally greeting opposing players on the field after games) would become more of an asset in the NIL, team-hopping era.

Money is the biggest part, but enjoying the experience is worth something, and players no longer find themselves stuck after realizing they're in a program they don't enjoy, playing for a guy they don't like.

And now that the defense looks more formidable and more fun . . .