It was never Mark Helfrich's fault that the University of Oregon offered him the job as head football coach. What was Helf supposed to do? Turn down a lottery-like windfall, his dream job, and say, "Sorry, I really know I'm more suited to be an offensive coordinator?"
No.
When the Eugene Philharmonic calls and asks you if you'd like the principal seat within the first violin section, you take the money, then draw the bow across the strings and hope for the best. That it ended with the rest of us covering our ears was part of the risk.