WASJU, I appreciate that you are merely venting your thoughts, and are not looking to convince others to consider your thoughts as the likely outcome of events (e.g., Lavin will not be coming back to coach, period). But if we're all just "thinking", let's try to reason out your thinking. Start with the premise that Lavin & Chiles are, in fact, going around the country recruiting kids to SJU for next year and beyond. Also assume that Lavin understands, given his successful recruiting track record, that he is selling SJU with him as the coach. To think otherwise would assume that Lavin is either (i) telling the recruits that someone other than him will be coaching at SJU (this is not likely as word of Lavin's message would have likely surfaced by now) or (ii) gambling that the recruits on which he has expended a large deal of time and energy will not de-commit once it is revealed that Lavin will not be coaching at SJU (again, given Lavin's experience around the game, and his experience at SJU specifically, I don't think Lavin takes this gamble). So, in my opinion, for your gut to be correct in this regard, all of the recruits and people that Lavin has contacted for the last several months have done a great job of keeping secret Lavin's true plans regarding his time with SJU or Lavin is literally betting the house that his recruits will not care if Lavin is the coach of the team when they're ready to play ball. Sorry, but I'm not seeing it.
Even if coach was planning on stepping down, I think he is loyal and would like to leave the program in good shape and put Dunlap in a good position to succeed. If coach is willing to put himself through travel and recruiting, I think based on what has been going on with the program he would have come back to the bench. I think he should come back when he is able but sooooo much has been made of his being away recruiting and being the "GM" that it all seems staged to me.