In a resounding vote of confidence, Arizona State has agreed to terms on a lucrative new contract with head football coach Kenny Dillingham. The 5-year deal, which includes a “pathway” to extend to 10 years, positions the 33-year-old Dillingham among the highest-paid coaches in the Big 12 conference.
The new contract comes on the heels of a Cinderella season in which Dillingham led the Sun Devils to an outright Big 12 title and a berth in the College Football Playoff, just one year after the team went 3-9. It was Arizona State’s first conference championship since 1996.
A Comprehensive Commitment to Football Success
Beyond just putting more money in Dillingham’s pocket, the new deal represents a wide-ranging investment in Arizona State football. Key components include:
- Expanded Scholarships: The program will add 20 more football scholarships next season as rosters expand to 105.
- Enhanced Support Staff: Increased financial commitment to hiring and retaining top coaching and support staff.
- Revenue Sharing: ASU plans to be a full participant in conference revenue sharing, further bolstering the program’s resources.
“We are in the national conversation. We want to be committed to give our program the resources to stay in the national conversation and compete nationally for the best coaching talent and recruit the talent to compete at the highest level.”
– Arizona State source on the Dillingham contract
Rewarding a Historic Turnaround
Dillingham’s meteoric rise is one of the most remarkable stories in college football. Consider where the Sun Devils were just 15 months ago:
- Coming off a dismal 3-9 season in 2023
- Picked to finish dead last in the Big 12 preseason poll
- Dillingham was the Pac-12’s lowest-paid head coach
Fast forward to today, and ASU is sitting at 11-2, Big 12 champions, and on the cusp of a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against Texas. Dillingham has already earned over $2.5 million in performance bonuses this year, with the potential to bank millions more if the Sun Devils advance in the Playoff.
The Perfect Fit in Tempe
For Dillingham, the new mega-deal is a dream realized. The Arizona native graduated from ASU and has referred to the head coaching job as his “dream job” for years, even before getting hired.
“The fit is so important. And me understanding the place here, I think it helped the fit and helped the transition because I just understand what the school and the city is about, and you’re recruiting to the school.”
– Kenny Dillingham on why he’s thrived at Arizona State
Dillingham’s deep roots in Arizona and intimate knowledge of the university have clearly paid off. His passion for the program is palpable and contagious. Now, with a new contract in hand and unparalleled institutional support, the sky’s the limit for Dillingham and Arizona State football.
The Transformation in Tempe
To fully appreciate ASU’s investment in football, consider how the program’s financial picture has shifted under Dillingham’s leadership:
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
| Football Operations Budget | — | +45% increase |
| Support Staff Bonuses | $0 | $200k+ (from Dillingham’s contract) |
| Assistant Coach Salaries | Below Big 12 average | Top tier of Big 12 |
Athletic Director Ray Anderson didn’t mince words about the university’s renewed commitment to competing at the highest level:
“We are in the national conversation. We want to be committed to give our program the resources to stay in the national conversation and compete nationally for the best coaching talent and recruit the talent to compete at the highest level.”
Just the Beginning for Dillingham’s Sun Devils
With a top-tier contract, a groundswell of support from the university and its boosters, and the entire state of Arizona rallying behind them, Dillingham’s Sun Devils appear poised to be a force in the Big 12 for years to come. The sleeping giant in the desert has awoken—and it has no intentions of hitting the snooze button anytime soon.
