The biggest issue I have with a coach contract like that is it inevitably upends the GM's significance. A coach being paid that much makes the decisions on personnel as well; the GM merely carries out the orders. I want Dorsey to have a real shot to do his own thing and build the Browns as he sees fit over the long-term. Hopefully, he can find a HC who is willing to work with him, rather than struggle for power against him.
That's the better scenario IMO.
It's also not -impossible- for a college coach to succeed.
Dick Vermeil found success with the Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs after coaching UCLA
Jimmy Johnson won 2 super bowls after winning a national title with Miami, coaching at Oklahoma State.
Barry Switzer pretty much rode his coattails but can at least claim a similiar success rate.
Pete Carroll dipped his toe into coaching the Jets, Patriots...went to USC won a national title...got out of their before the sanctions hit and went to win a Super Bowl with the Seahakws
Tom Coughlin was an assistant with the Giants, won with Boston College than parlayed that into a gig with the Jaguars, Giants winning Super Bowls with each.
Jim Harbaugh had success with Stanford, the 49ers before dipping out and taking the gig with his alma mater again.
Bill Walsh learned under Paul Brown with the Bengals, then went to Stanford and then took off again for the 49ers.
"Failures" would be?
Nick Saban
Steve Spurrier
Lou Holtz
Chip Kelly
I refuse to put Butch Davis on that last btw because I think he could have been a very successful pro coach under different circumstances. He had a good philosophy, was able to find randos off the street to play well for him, and even was able to find good coordinators on his staff. The Browns organization failed him, not the other way around.
Getting back to the overall point? Yes. This needs to be Dorsey's team at this point and this needs to be his decision. Not Haslam's. Unless Haslam has a coach he knows of, has contact with and they both seem to like? (I don't know...say he knows a guy who knows someone like Gus Malzahn, etc) than this is Dorsey's search.