You're right about coaching and I'll use Flanagan as an example. Before Devin Bush Sr arrived Flanagan wasn't relevant but from 2013-2015 Flanagan went 35-5 with a state title in 2015. Now Flanagan is back to being irrelevant.
I agree with you. Dillard went undefeated last year but lost in the first round of the playoffs. I was rooting for Dillard but when I heard they lost I was like damn. Maybe the schedule played a factor but having St. Thomas on your schedule will have you battle tested.
The Kickoff Classic game with Chaminade @ West Boca we went to on Thursday before the Vero games was brutal too. The heat index was 106 at kickoff and there was no air stirring at all. I nearly wept with relief when the sun finally set over the Loxahatchee.