Kenny Dillingham Stays at Arizona State, But He’s Not Done Making Noise
Kenny Dillingham is staying home - and he’s making sure everyone in Phoenix knows it.
On Saturday morning, Arizona State locked in its head coach with a five-year contract extension, effectively removing Dillingham from the Michigan coaching search that had picked up steam after Sherrone Moore’s departure. While some in Ann Arbor may have had their hopes up, this move wasn’t exactly a shocker.
Dillingham is ASU through and through - a former player, an alum, and a coach who’s been vocal about building something sustainable in Tempe. Leaving that behind was always going to be a long shot.
Still, that didn’t stop the national buzz. The moment Michigan’s job opened up, Dillingham’s name was tossed into the ring by analysts and insiders alike.
Some even suggested Michigan had to “make him say no.” Turns out, they never got that far - the Wolverines didn’t offer, and Dillingham never had to say anything.
He was already locking in with the Sun Devils.
But if you thought the contract extension would be the headline of the weekend, Dillingham had other plans.
Dillingham’s $20 Million Ask
Shortly after the extension news dropped, Dillingham addressed the media - and made waves with an off-script appeal. It wasn’t about recruiting or next season’s depth chart.
It was about money. Specifically, a very large check.
“We need to find one of these really rich people in this city to step up and stroke a check,” Dillingham said. “I’ll do everything I can to make you the most famous person in the city.”
And then he named his number: $20 million.
This wasn’t an offhand comment. Dillingham has been pushing this narrative for a while - calling on Phoenix’s business community to step up and support ASU football, particularly through name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities. He’s been clear: in the new era of college football, community backing isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity.
The timing of the ask, though, raised some eyebrows. Dillingham just signed a deal reportedly worth $7.5 million per year, with a significant bump for his staff as well.
So why now? Why this public call for a massive donation right after securing his own payday?
The answer lies in how college football is evolving - and how coaches are adjusting to the new financial landscape.
The NIL Reality
With revenue sharing on the horizon and NIL deals already reshaping roster construction, head coaches are wearing more hats than ever. They’re not just drawing up plays and managing depth charts - they’re fundraisers, too. And in Dillingham’s case, he’s not shy about it.
His $20 million ask isn’t necessarily for one player or one season. It’s about building a sustainable NIL war chest that allows Arizona State to compete in the Big 12 and beyond. That money can go toward player retention, recruiting, and keeping the program competitive in a market where top-tier talent is increasingly tied to financial opportunity.
To be clear, NIL deals from local businesses don’t count against a school’s revenue share cap. So when Dillingham lobbies for private money, he’s not looking to bend the rules - he’s playing within them. It’s a logical move in a system that rewards programs with strong local support and deep-pocketed backers.
But it’s also a bold one - especially when it comes just hours after signing a lucrative extension.
A Message to Phoenix
Dillingham’s message was as much about optics as it was about dollars. By publicly calling on the city’s business leaders, he’s putting the pressure on - not just to support ASU football, but to invest in its future.
He’s saying, “I’ve committed. Now it’s your turn.”
And to his credit, he’s not asking for blind faith. Dillingham has already delivered Arizona State’s first Big 12 title and navigated a season riddled with injuries and inconsistency.
He’s built a program that’s competitive, resilient, and on the rise. But he knows that momentum only goes so far without resources.
That’s the crux of the message: Arizona State can’t afford to fall behind in the NIL arms race. Not if it wants to keep winning titles.
Not if it wants to keep its best players. And not if it wants to keep a coach like Dillingham in Tempe for the long haul.
Looking Ahead
There’s no doubt Dillingham is all-in on Arizona State. His extension reaffirms that. But his public appeal for financial backing shows he’s also keenly aware of what it takes to win in 2025 and beyond.
He’s not begging - he’s building. And he’s challenging Phoenix to be part of it.
The Sun Devils have their coach. Now the question is: will the city answer the call?