As far as racists or a$$holes being coaches:
1. Racists won’t work out here. No thanks.
2. A$$holes—some great coaches were a$$holes, as were some great CEOs, military leaders, financiers/private equity guys (an industry that seems like a giant magnet to them), and lauded men from all sorts of endeavors. Not pleasant to be around, but the ones that are winners can really take your team/company places. You’ve got to earn player and peer respect. If you do that, but you’re really rough around the edges than so be it. See Woody Hayes, Frank Kush, Bobby Knight, and many more.
As for Mehringer, while it’s clear that some think he’s ok, that’s their opinion. Personally, I wouldn’t want him back here. That’s my opinion.