Wayne won less and less every year he was here - each year under his coaching (and each year removed from LE), we had a worse record. You can argue the same thing about GMac, but I don't think anyone can say Wayne was taking the program forwards.
I guess when you split hairs, then it is in the eye of the beholder. Because some would take the 19 wins and making the round of 32 his second year over the 20 wins and the NIT final four his first year.