TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State University’s head football coach, Kenny Dillingham, is set to receive a substantial pay increase following the team’s surprising advancement to the College Football Playoff.
On Thursday, the Arizona Board of Regents approved a contract extension for Dillingham, extending his tenure through 2029. Starting this year, his salary will rise to $5.8 million, with annual increments of $100,000 each January 1 throughout the duration of the contract. Last season, he earned $4.1 million.
This new contract also contains provisions for additional one-year extensions and raises if certain performance benchmarks are reached, including a potential increase of $450,000 for achieving 11 wins in a season.
Dillingham, now 34 years old, spearheaded an incredible turnaround for the Sun Devils, transforming them from a mere three wins the previous year to a New Year’s Day Peach Bowl appearance against the fourth-ranked Texas. Although Arizona State made a remarkable comeback in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals with the help of running back Cam Skattebo, they ultimately fell short, losing 39-31 in double overtime.
As a result of their successful season, Dillingham received various bonuses during Arizona State’s journey, which included clinching a Big 12 championship during their inaugural season in the league, despite being predicted to finish last in the preseason rankings.
Dillingham, who was only 33 when he took over the struggling Arizona State program, was the youngest head coach in the FBS. His first season was challenging due to multiple injuries among players and the ongoing shadow of an NCAA investigation tied to former coach Herm Edwards’ recruiting practices.
This season, Dillingham’s dynamic coaching style resonated with the squad as they won six consecutive games, propelling them into the College Football Playoff for the first time. He made astute decisions in recruiting, including successfully integrating quarterback Sam Leavitt into the team through the transfer portal and utilizing Skattebo effectively, who secured a fifth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting.
