Great players USUALLY make sorry ass coaches. Larry Bird being one of the few exceptions. Look at every great coach, at any sport, at the higher levels. Most everyone was a below average player. Coaching and playing are two different animals.
Good timing with the firing. Do it early, let the shock wear off, identify recruits who may be wavering, let the HC come in and smooze them back to the fold, tell the parents and recruits "we weren't going to lie to you to get you signed and then fire the position coach", yada yada yada. Also get a jump start on replacements.
Our DL underwhelmed and our secondary just sucked. 4th and 17 with not only a win on the line, but a bowl game on the line??? Secondary. Don't care who we recruit if they aren't where they are supposed to be. Look at fsu game. Secondary late hit on QB with game on line, DL spitting on fsu player, BOTH plays extending drives that resulted in points. Game changers, not in a good way. No discipline.
Plenty of stink on this coaching staff but I personally would not take a position with UF as I wouldn't have my professional reputation associated with this ****show.