HE had to be aware of the situation here. I have no idea what was said to him about it by the administration, specifically Mone.
This is PURE SPECULATION: We do know that he was hired by Mone, not Braun, so it leaves one to wonder if he was told that he really reports to Mone and not Braun, and i he has any issues or concerns, that he should go straight to Mone with them. If I were in Val's position, that is about the only thing that would make me comfortable enough to sign on here, D1 job or not. He was an up an coming assistant, and this was not going to be his only shot at a D1 gig. There had to be something that was said or done that made this attractive enough to commit to it for him.
I do find it a bit odd that Val has stated again and again that doing things the right way, being honorable and conducting yourself above board is so important to him, when there is so much out in the public about how Braun was anything BUT that. It just seems like an odd fit to me.