I don't know if he was actively spiteful, but he certainly was passive-aggressive. "I'll do it and prove them wrong!" Now maybe in the last couple of months he was getting spiteful.He's spiteful. It's well known how he felt about UK fans, and how he treated certain players in response to the fans. His idea of "great job" is getting his precious recruits drafted. Far above winning any sort of title.
I think Cal just got tired of trying to do different things and just decided to force square pegs in round holes.