So what I take from this thread is that the difference between being a very good coach and being an elite coach is recruiting violations, sanctions, breaking NCAA rules, bending rules to get players in your program, etc.
And that may very well be true. But I would rather have the Notre Dame program that is hated for doing things the right way and still winning -- even if they don't win it all -- than the program that wins it all but sacrifices its ethics and integrity to get there. If Brian Kelly can win 10 games a year and keep ND's status as the beacon of college sports, then he should stay as long as he wants to coach.
I've been very critical of Kelly's game management and planning since a couple years ago, but I would never want him gone. If Saban, Meyer, Carroll, etc. coached ND at any point I would be a very distraught fan. I can't root for a team like that. We would know as fans that we weren't winning with integrity, and I would hope that would upset everyone here.