Kenny Dillingham isn’t going anywhere - and Arizona State just made that crystal clear.
The 35-year-old head coach has agreed to a new five-year deal that locks him in at $7.5 million per year, a significant raise and a major signal of intent from a program aiming to climb into college football’s elite. With the ink still drying, this also effectively removes Dillingham from the conversation for the Michigan head coaching vacancy, where his name had been floating around in recent days.
Arizona State made the announcement Saturday morning with a bold message on social media: “HE ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE, so it's time to IGNITE 🔱.” And that’s exactly the kind of energy this deal represents - a school planting its flag and saying it’s ready to play with the big boys.
A Program on the Rise
Dillingham’s record at ASU sits at 22-16 over three seasons, but the numbers only tell part of the story. He’s coming off a Big 12 championship - a milestone that marks the Sun Devils’ most significant step forward in years. And now, with a long-term contract and a serious financial commitment behind him, Dillingham has the backing to build something sustainable in Tempe.
More than just a salary bump, the new deal includes increased resources across the board. The staff salary pool will jump to $11 million, putting ASU near the top of the Big 12 in that category. That gives Dillingham the flexibility to retain key assistants and attract top-tier coaching talent - both essential in today’s ultra-competitive landscape.
There’s also a commitment to facility upgrades, including an improved indoor football complex already in the works. These are the kinds of investments that turn a good program into a great one.
The Vision from the Top
Athletic director Graham Rossini made it clear: this isn’t just about keeping a coach - it’s about transforming the identity of Sun Devil football.
“The perspective that is coming through is we have something very special in our midst right now,” Rossini said. “We all have to nurture that. That’s the shared responsibility.”
That shared responsibility includes not just the university, but the fan base, donors, and alumni - the entire Sun Devil ecosystem. Rossini emphasized that Dillingham has never made this about himself. The focus has always been on building a program that can compete nationally and stay in that conversation year after year.
“He’s willing to turn down money because he loves it and believes in what we’re doing,” Rossini said. “It’s never been about ‘What does Kenny Dillingham benefit out of this process?’ It’s about, ‘How do we keep feeding Sun Devil football in a way that keeps us in the national conversation?’”
Why the Timing Matters
This extension comes at a pivotal time - not just for Arizona State, but for the broader college football landscape. Michigan is in the middle of a high-profile coaching search after firing Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10 following serious off-field issues. Dillingham had been mentioned as a potential candidate, but this deal takes him off the board.
Rossini acknowledged that while he was confident a deal would get done, he understood the anxiety among fans, especially with the Michigan speculation swirling. But in the end, the Sun Devils got their man - and more importantly, they kept him.
What This Means for Michigan
With Dillingham staying put and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer now leading the Crimson Tide into the College Football Playoff - following a dramatic comeback win over Oklahoma - the list of viable candidates for Michigan is getting shorter by the day.
DeBoer has said he plans to remain at Alabama, at least for now. And with the Tide preparing for a Rose Bowl matchup against Indiana, any pursuit by Michigan would have to wait.
Meanwhile, several other potential targets - including Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea - have recently signed extensions. That doesn’t completely rule them out, but it does raise the price tag, and Michigan would have to be aggressive if it wanted to pry one of them loose.
That leaves Washington’s Jedd Fisch as one of the most intriguing names still in play. Fisch, who once served as an assistant under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, has gone 31-32 as a head coach while taking on major rebuilds at both Arizona and Washington. He hasn’t yet renegotiated his deal with the Huskies, making him a realistic option.
Another possibility? Interim coach Biff Poggi. With the candidate pool thinning and time running short, Michigan may find it more practical to promote from within - at least in the short term.
The Clock Is Ticking
Michigan doesn’t have the luxury of dragging this out. While the NCAA transfer portal window doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2, players are already weighing their options, and informal agreements are being made behind the scenes.
New NCAA rules also allow players on teams undergoing a coaching change to enter the portal five days after a new coach is hired - but that only applies if the hire happens within 30 days of the previous coach’s exit. If Michigan waits too long, it risks losing players without a clear path to replace them.
In short: the Wolverines need to move, and fast.
The Big Picture
For Arizona State, this isn’t just about retaining a rising star - it’s about building a foundation. Dillingham is young, energetic, and deeply tied to the program as an alum. He’s shown he can win, and now he has the resources to take things even further.
For Michigan, it’s back to the drawing board. The Wolverines are still one of the premier jobs in college football, but the timing of this search - coming after a busy hiring cycle and amid a shrinking candidate pool - makes it a tricky needle to thread.
One thing’s clear: Kenny Dillingham won’t be the guy in Ann Arbor. He’s staying in Tempe, where the Sun Devils are all in - and looking to ignite something big.