If he had already signed the contract, is he even allowed to speak to the team? Technically, speaking to players at another school would be a violation. I'm just speculating here, but I think that's a possibility. I mean, I wouldn't say goodbye until the ink was dry, and the deal was 100%, and maybe then he couldn't. He certainly can't speak to the players now.
And, of course, he offers Hawkins. He's not the UB coach any longer. Recruiting starts as soon as he signs the paper. He's not going to try to improve his team because he wants to be nice to his old school? It's not like Hawkins would come here without Nate anyway.