Zook is a lousy coach, don't get me wrong, but it came down to more than the ST coach with MM. How many ST coaches did MM go through, 3? Always the scapegoat but the fact is, MM and TT did not value ST. In terms of building the roster, devoting practice time, players used etc., he just didn't value it. MM would say it himself, every year - on the field you get what you emphasize in practice. Well proof was in the pudding when it came to ST. Now ML and Gute will have to change all of that.
Yes the ST coach will be an important hire, but less important than the time, energy, financial capital, draft capital and accountability devoted to improvement there.