Coach Kenny Dillingham
tempe, asu,
The past week has been an emotional rollercoaster for Sun Devil Nation. When Michigan fired Sherrone Moore and Kenny Dillingham’s name immediately shot to the top of their wish list, every ASU fan felt that familiar dread; the sinking feeling that comes when blue-blood programs start circling our best asset.
But today, we can finally exhale. Coach Dillingham is staying home.
The new five-year deal, averaging $7.5 million annually with an $11 million staff salary pool, is more than just a contract; it’s a statement. ASU administration heard Dillingham’s message loud and clear: if you want to compete in the new era of NIL and revenue sharing, you need to put your money where your mouth is. And they did.
Let’s be honest…Michigan came calling with serious interest and the potential to pay millions more. For most coaches, that’s a no-brainer. But Kenny Dillingham isn’t most coaches. He’s a Scottsdale native, an ASU alum, and someone who became visibly emotional when asked what makes coaching here special. “I love this place,” he said through tears. “It’s a special place to me.”
That emotion is exactly why we needed him to stay. In just two seasons, Dillingham has transformed this program from NCAA sanctions and three-win seasons into Big 12 champions headed to the College Football Playoff. He’s 19-7 over the past two years, found diamonds like Cam Skattebo in the transfer portal, and turned Sam Leavitt into Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He’s not just rebuilding ASU football; he’s making it relevant again.
The Michigan interest was real and terrifying. When your coach’s name trends on betting markets for another job, when national media speculates about him leaving, when even sports new media magnate Dave Portnoy publicly advocates for Michigan to hire him…those aren’t just rumors. They’re existential threats to everything we’ve built.
But Dillingham never wavered. He used the leverage to secure resources for his staff and players, then recommitted to the Valley he calls home. His message throughout was consistent: “I was never leaving. This is home.”
For Sun Devil fans who’ve endured years of mediocrity, coaching turnover, and watching Arizona celebrate our failures, this moment feels like vindication. We have a championship coach who wants to be here, an administration willing to invest, and a future that suddenly looks incredibly bright.
Michigan will have to look elsewhere. Meanwhile, we’re preparing for the Sun Bowl with our coach, our generational coach, firmly in place.
Forks up, Devil Nation. The future is maroon and gold.