Personally wouldn't give him credit for getting a side with Ntini, Smith, De Villiers, Kallis, Amla etc. to the top.
At the risk of sounding full Warnie on Buchanan, I do think the Coach is there to facilitate a side going to the top, they aren't going to create something from nothing, as such there is only really competent and incompetent coaches rather than degrees of quality. Either they facilitate the team to the best of its ability, or they fail to manage factionalism in the dressing room, or alienate the captain, or generally cause resentment and bitterness within the side, and get forced out by the board like Arthur has done twice. Excited to see if he can go three for three.
He probably would like to give off the impression he is willing to be disliked to ensure success, I think he's unable to not be disliked because he's a toxic bloke.