Michigan coaching search: Josh Pate reacts to Kenny Dillingham comments on rumors, assesses candidacy

As Michigan’s coaching search enters its second week, potential candidates continue to float around. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer made it clear he doesn’t plan on leaving Tuscaloosa, but Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham’s name is still making the rounds.

Dillingham has addressed the rumors connecting him to Michigan multiple times, most recently on Tuesday. He continued to reiterate his love for Arizona State, especially considering his family is in the area. Still, Josh Pate agreed with concerns about the Sun Devils’ ability to compete from a resources standpoint, particularly with Big 12 programs such as Texas Tech making such big investments.

Pate also said Dillingham isn’t one to necessarily hide his feelings. But when it comes to the Michigan job, there are some layers to peel back. That’s where Dillingham’s potential candidacy could get interesting.

“Kenny Dillingham is, like, the most brutally honest coach in America,” Pate said Tuesday on Josh Pate’s College Football Show. “I know Kenny. I know him fairly well. He’s a very straight shooter. Even when it probably works against his own best interests, he’s a pretty straight shooter. And so it’s not hard, there aren’t layers that you have to pull back to figure out where his head’s at. You may have to read between the lines a little bit there. But I’ll read between the lines for you. He knows that he’s on Michigan’s radar. I don’t think he has spoken to Michigan because I think there’s a pecking order in the Michigan coaching search – and I don’t know that Kenny is at the top, but I think he’s near the top.

“And I think that once those dominoes unequivocally fall – I think they already have, but according to Michigan, maybe they haven’t. So once they unequivocally fall, then I think maybe it’s Kenny Dillingham’s shot to listen. I will also tell you this. There’s a perception out there that Michigan need only pick up the phone and Kenny Dillingham is on the first thing smoking to Ann Arbor. I don’t find that to be the case. I think they’d have a reasonable shot at landing him – I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion because, as I said, everything you’re hearing him say about Arizona State is accurate.”

Kenny Dillingham ‘not looking to leave Arizona State’

Since taking over as Arizona State head coach, Dillingham has made his for his alma mater clear. It’s part of the reason he fits so well with the program. Josh Pate compared it to other coaches at their alma mater, such as Brent Key at Georgia Tech and Clark Lea at Vanderbilt.

As a result, when it comes to comparing ASU with the Michigan opening, Dillingham has a different perspective. That’s why things are different than other candidates such as, say, Kalen DeBoer.

“Kenny Dillingham is not looking to leave Arizona State,” Pate said. “That dude loves it there. There is a root system planted there with him for a number of reasons. One of the beautiful things in college football is when a guy that is uniquely tied to a program exists at that program. Brent Key-Georgia Tech, perfect example. Clark Lea-Vandy, perfect example. Well, Kenny Dillingham-Arizona State is a perfect example.

“So someone who lives in Spokane, Wash., may look and say, ‘Dude, if I could have Arizona State or Michigan, it’s Michigan. It’s a no-brainer.’ To you, it would be. But that’s all things being equal. All things aren’t equal with him. He has strong ties to Arizona State. So it’s going to take a lot to get him out of there. Michigan has a lot to offer, and that’s why you listen. And he may very well listen to them if the time comes and choose to go. All I’m saying is, I’ve maintained and I still maintain there’s a very, very different dynamic in play with Kenny Dillingham and Michigan than there is Kalen DeBoer in Michigan. And I don’t think any of that’s ever changed. I think that’s been the way it’s been the whole time.”