Kenny Dillingham

Kenny Dillingham
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamArizona State
ConferenceBig 12
Record14–12
Biographical details
Born (1990-04-28) April 28, 1990 (age 34)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Alma materArizona State (2012)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2007–2012Chaparral HS (AZ) (QB)
2013Chaparral HS (AZ) (OC/QB)
2014–2015Arizona State (OA)
2016Memphis (GA)
2017Memphis (QB/TE)
2018Memphis (OC/QB)
2019Auburn (OC/QB)
2020–2021Florida State (OC/QB)
2022Oregon (OC/QB)
2023–presentArizona State
Head coaching record
Overall14–12
Bowls0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Big 12 (2024)
Awards
Big 12 Coach of the Year (2024)

Kenny Dillingham (born April 28, 1990) is an American football coach who is currently the head football coach at Arizona State University. He previously served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon, Florida State University, Auburn University, and the University of Memphis.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

Dillingham began coaching at age 17 after he tore his ACL during his senior year.[1] He started working with the junior varsity team at Chaparral High School before being promoted to offensive coordinator of the varsity team at 21 years old.[2] While coaching at Chaparral, he went to Arizona State University, graduating in 2012 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. He was hired as an offensive assistant at Arizona State in 2014 under offensive coordinator Mike Norvell, whom he met while coaching at Chaparral.[2]

Memphis

After Norvell was hired as head coach at Memphis in 2016, Dillingham was hired as a graduate assistant for the Tigers.[3] Dillingham spent the 2016 season as the de facto quarterbacks coach, since the team did not have an official quarterbacks coach. After Tigers offensive coordinator Chip Long left to be the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Dillingham was named the official quarterbacks coach for Memphis and added tight ends coach to his duties for 2017. After Long's successor Darrell Dickey left for Texas A&M, Dillingham was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2018 season. In 2017-2018 Memphis had back-to-back top 5 offenses in college football. While at Memphis, Dillingham was rated the #1 recruiter in conference by the 247 recruiter rankings.[4]

Auburn

Dillingham was hired by Gus Malzahn to be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn in 2019, replacing Chip Lindsey. [5][6] During his time at Auburn, he helped Bo Nix become the SEC Rookie of the Year while leading the most improved offense in the SEC. He spent one season with the Tigers, where they recorded a 9-3 record while averaging 33.2 points per game.[7] Auburn also had its highest recruiting ranking in the 247 recruiting ranking era during Dillingham’s year as offensive coordinator.

Florida State

After Norvell left Memphis to be the next head coach at Florida State, Dillingham joined Florida State as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, replacing Kendal Briles.[8][9][10]

Oregon

On December 17, 2021, Dillingham was hired as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Oregon under head coach Dan Lanning.[11]

Arizona State

On November 27, 2022, Dillingham was named the 26th head coach at Arizona State University, replacing Herm Edwards.[12] He is the first Sun Devil alumnus and native Arizonan to hold this position.

In his second season, Dillingham's team was projected to finish last in the Big 12 according to the conference’s preseason media poll.[13] However, they exceeded expectations, winning the Big 12 Championship game by defeating Iowa State and earning a first-round bye in the 2024 College Football Playoff.[14]

Personal life

Dillingham and his wife, Briana, have one child.

He has wanted to coach Arizona State since he was young as it is his hometown team.[15]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Arizona State Sun Devils (Pac-12 Conference) (2023)
2023 Arizona State 3–9 2–7 T–9th
Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12 Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Arizona State 11–3 7–2 T–1st L Peach†
Arizona State: 14–12 9–9
Total: 14–12
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ Sonnone, Brendan (December 16, 2019). "FSU OC Kenny Dillingham on the 'offense built for playmakers'". Noles247. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Vitale, Josh (December 11, 2018). "Who is Kenny Dillingham? A few things to know about Auburn's new offensive coordinator". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  3. ^ DeGroff, Tammy (February 17, 2016). "Norvell Adds Two to Staff". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "Norvell Announces Staff Additions and Promotions". University of Memphis Athletics. January 3, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Goldberg, Rob (December 9, 2018). "Auburn Reportedly Hires Memphis' Kenny Dillingham as Offensive Coordinator". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ Blum, Sam (December 10, 2018). "Auburn hires Memphis' Dillingham as OC/QB coach". AL.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "2019 Football Cumulative Statistics". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ^ Green, Tom (December 9, 2019). "Source: OC Kenny Dillingham leaving Auburn for FSU". AL.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Taylor, John (December 11, 2019). "Ex-Auburn OC Kenny Dillingham officially hired at Florida State". CollegeFootballTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Weiler, Curt (December 9, 2019). "Auburn offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham joining FSU staff". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Krueger, Nate (December 17, 2021). "Lanning hires Kenny Dillingham as Offensive Coordinator". Oregon Ducks. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Bradley, Cole (November 28, 2022). "Kenny Dillingham career breakdown: an in-depth look at ASU's new head coach". 247Sports. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Leuzzi, John (December 7, 2024). "Where was Arizona State voted in Big 12 preseason poll? Sun Devils' turnaround, revisited". AZCentral.com. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Norris, Kyle (December 8, 2024). "Arizona State gets four seed in College Football Playoff, receives first-round bye". abc15.com. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  15. ^ "Arizona State Head Football Coach Kenny Dillingham Introductory Press Conference". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved November 26, 2024.