Report: Kenny Dillingham tells Arizona State players he will coach Sun Devils in 2026

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, already a hot commodity amid a red-hot coaching carousel, reportedly told his players he planned to return next year for his fourth season leading the Sun Devils, according to 247Sports’ Sun Devil Source. Dillingham reportedly made this declaration ahead of last Saturday’s 24-19 win at Iowa State.

According to Sun Devil Source’s Chris Karpman, Dillingham “unexpectedly entered several position meeting rooms last week.” There, he reportedly told players he would continue to lead the Sun Devils next season.

“He just walked in, said he wasn’t going anywhere next year, and that it’s going to be business as usual,” a parent of one Arizona State defender reportedly told Sun Devil Source. “Then he left. He also did that with other (positions on the team_ because those players heard the same thing and they talked about it after.”

Outside of Ole Miss‘ Lane Kiffin, the 35-year-old Dillingham is arguably one of the hottest names being thrown around for several of the current Power Four openings, including two of the biggest in the SEC. On3 insider Pete Nakos has already tabbed Dillingham as a potential candidate at both Auburn and LSU, both of which have come open in the last two weeks.

Auburn, where Dillingham was previously the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019 under then-coach Gus Malzahn, is the latest Power Four opening after parting ways with Hugh Freeze this past Sunday — the day after Dillingham reportedly made the declaration. Freeze, who was fired after Saturday’s disappointing 10-3 home loss to Kentucky, finished 15-19 overall and a dismal 6-16 in SEC play across his three seasons on The Plains.

Sun Devil Source also suggested Florida, which fired now-former head coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19, midway through his fourth season in Gainesville, has reportedly expressed interest in Dillingham. The outlet cited two people familiar with the Gators’ search process.

Of course, while he might be a wanted man on the coaching market, Dillingham has plenty of reasons to want to stay in Tempe, including being Arizona State’s first alumnus to become its head football coach. Dillingham and the Sun Devils are also coming off a 2024 season in which they made the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff after winning the Big 12 Championship last year. The 35-year-old Dillingham is also a native of Scottsdale, and has a growing family with wife Briana, who have a 3-year-old son together with another child on the way.