TEMPE – With the recent coaching firings at LSU and Penn State, an opening has been created for someone like Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham to entertain the idea of becoming their new head coach.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Arizona State head football coach Dillingham speaks to the media during a news conference at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 20, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Dillingham’s resume as Arizona State’s head coach is short but sharp. His arrival would signal a move toward innovation, speed, and recruiting firepower. Dillingham has all the traits that the big college football programs believe they need. With Dillingham’s recent success at ASU, including their Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff run, all eyes have been on what Dillingham will do with his coaching future.
Sep 6, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Dillingham reacts during the first quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Kenny Dillingham speaks on his future with Arizona State:
While many coaching searches hinge on past titles, Dillingham offers momentum and pace of change. ASU’s roster timeline moved much faster than typical rebuilds, which suggests that LSU wouldn’t be buying past glory, but rather future potential. When asked about the rumors from The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s article and other college football programs calling for his services, Dillingham responded, “I’m trying to win as many games as I can here, that is my number one focus. (Credit: Jacob Brooks | Sun Devil Source)
Kenny Dillingham was asked if he thinks about coaching openings at Penn State and LSU, and he shut it down immediately:
“My number one focus is our players. Our football team. Everything about us, that simple. I am so singularly focused on us.”@SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/zXvYTeBtOs
— Jakob Brooks (@Jakobrooks) October 27, 2025
This story isn’t just about a job opening; it underscores a larger trend of power-conference programs valuing coaches who can rapidly elevate status in an era of NIL, portals, and fan impatience. Fans and administrators both crave tangible rise today, not just promises for tomorrow. Locally, Arizona State fans fear Dillingham’s departure, with LSU and Penn State fans wondering who will shepherd their next chapter. Nationally, the narrative resonates with every program that might now settle for “trajectories” over “track record”.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham holds up his hands after a made PAT against NAU at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 30, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It also raises the question for ASU fans of what happens if the Dillingham era ends sooner than expected. Arizona State must brace for a departure and map succession plans now. For bigger programs, the cost of waiting on proven coaches might be missing out on those on the rise.
Cardinals mentioned in trade rumors surrounding Marvin Harrison Jr.
Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
