I think the issue about coach reputation isn’t that a kid misses their ACT target. When that happens, it is not the fault of the coach, plus you are correct the kid isn’t bragging that they couldn’t qualify academically
The issue would be a coach telling a kid that they have a firm offer and are safe (pending hitting the academic targets) and the kids tells other coaches she is off the market. Then for athletic reasons the coach pulls the offer and leaves the kid at the alter after other programs have already filled. That definitely would hurt a coach with future recruits. Does that mean the Ivy coach can’t fill a class? No, but it might mean that the quality of commits, particularly the higher talent early commits, goes down.
I think to a certain extent the argument between @Ohiodad51 and @anon145 comes down to the coach erring on the conservative side with ACT targets. If they REALLY need a 28, tell the girls they need a 30. This provides some cushion, plus gives the coach a graceful out if a girl doesn’t develop the way he hoped she would.
I believe @anon145 that classes are “full” that early, as she had personal experience with women’s soccer and mine is in a different sport. But also the reality is that several of those girls will have academic or other issues that make them decommit. So I’m guessing there will be a few girls offered much later. But getting recruited late probably requires more work and will be more random.