TEMPE, Ariz. — Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State are in discussions to amend the popular football coach’s contract, increase his annual compensation and help keep him at the Big 12 desert school.
In his third season at Arizona State, Dillingham said after Saturday’s practice that talks began shortly following the regular season’s end and have continued. SunDevilSource first reported the development, which surfaced after speculation that Dillingham was a lead candidate for the open head-coaching position at Michigan.
Dillingham, 35, is 22-16 at Arizona State. Last season, he led the Sun Devils on a surprising run to the Big 12 championship and into the College Football Playoff. This year, the team battled key injuries but has an 8-4 record heading to the Sun Bowl. Over the last month or so, Dillingham has been linked to nearly every major opening in the sport, including at Penn State, Florida and LSU.
Michigan was next on the list. Or as Dillingham put it, “Episode 14” in college football’s ever-changing reality show. Throughout, his message hasn’t changed. He grew up here. He went to school at Arizona State. His family lives in the same Scottsdale neighborhood.
Asked why he would stay loyal to Arizona State amid all the high-profile attention, Dillingham said, “I mean, I love this place.” The coach dropped his head as he tried to keep his composure. More than 30 seconds passed. Dillingham finally continued: “This place is just, it’s just a special place to me.”
Dillingham said on a recent podcast that he had not talked with any school during the regular season about an opening, but added that representatives had called his agent. Asked if that had changed, Dillingham said he talked with one athletic director but did so more out of respect than for the open position.
By reaching six wins and achieving bowl eligibility, Dillingham was recently awarded another season on his contract, which stretched it to Dec. 31, 2030. In October, USA Today listed Dillingham as the 25th-highest-paid head coach among public institutions, set to make more than $7.4 million this season, although $1 million stemmed from a one-time signing bonus.
This week, Michigan fired coach Sherrone Moore after two seasons because of alleged inappropriate conduct. As Saturday’s Arizona State practice began — about 90 minutes later than scheduled (Dillingham said it was pushed back because he wanted to play basketball) — Dillingham fist-bumped players as they got ready. He said players laughed at all the news reporters in attendance, waiting to talk with the coach about his future.
“That’s cool, I guess,” Dillingham said of the Michigan speculation. “That’s one of the best programs in the country. It’s one of the best logos in the country. I think everybody can agree there. … (But) that doesn’t change how I feel about here.
“That doesn’t change that I’m my sister’s neighbor. That doesn’t change that my parents live three doors down. … But it is one of the best jobs in America. It’s an unbelievable brand. It’s a great opportunity for somebody.”
Arizona State, a school that suffered from shaky fan support for years, sold out every home game this season for the first time in recent memory. The school has made great strides under Dillingham, but he said he would continue to push because the sport demands it. Asked if he had everything he needed to win at a high level, he said it’s impossible to answer because the bar changes daily.
“That’s the nature of this era,” said Dillingham, adding that he felt the administration was “scratching and clawing” at a level needed to compete for championships.
Arizona State will play Duke in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas.
