With the work I have been involved in for the last 30 years, I have always stuck by 3 rules, but the first and most important one is when offered a choice between a basket case or a gem, always go for the basket case.You can improve a basket case 99.9% of the time and you get the kudos from the brass for your hard work, and the money follows. If you choose the gem, then you can either just maintain it or it goes south and no one loves you for that and your more than likely looking for a new job.
I have a gut feeling that there is an unemployed coach out there looking for a basket case.
The other 2 work rules I live by are
Never ever volunteer
And never fish off the company pier.