Arizona State is on the rise, and Kenny Dillingham is the spark. Yes, the young head coach isn’t just building a team — he’s building a culture. And his journey is nothing short of remarkable. Although a knee injury ended his playing days at 17, it ignited his coaching career. And he climbed the ranks fast, proving himself at every stop. Then, in November 2022, he came home, becoming the 26th head coach of the Sun Devils — the first Arizona native to do it. But Dillingham didn’t just take the job; he flipped the script. He put the culture in the hands of the players, letting them lead from within. And following that player-led culture, Dillingham made a bold decision.

Well, former ASU QB Trenton Bourguet is trading his helmet for a headset, stepping in as an assistant RBs coach, thanks to HC Dillingham. Bourguet’s bio on X also makes his new position official – and why not? After all Bourguet’s journey is the definition of dedication. Over 5 seasons, he threw for 3,162 yards and 14 TDs. But his impact goes beyond the numbers. And through coaching changes, tough seasons, and program shake-ups, he stayed true to ASU. His grit, leadership, and loyalty made him a fan favorite. Now, he’s bringing that same fire to the sidelines.

On top of that, Dillingham had a clear reason for turning his former QB into a coach. Using a killer analogy, he explained how adding the wrong ingredient — like hot sauce on ice cream — can ruin something good. And he didn’t want to make that mistake. “Obviously, Trenton’s a great leader, voted onto the leadership council again,” the ASU HC said, adding, “I think it was important for people to see him step out on that field on senior night and go be a part of the coin toss for what he’s done for this program, what he’s done for the community. And I think that the entire family is all in ASU, all in Sun Devils. They’ve got great passion, great confidence, a great voice for the program.”

And Dillingham didn’t stop there. He stated, “And I think Trenton’s gonna be phenomenal as a coach in the next chapter of his life, he already is.” The HC couldn’t hold on to his praises for the young QB turned RBs coach and continued. “He’s been on the 7-on-7 circuit, you know, dicing people up left and right. When we have our games out there where we have our younger guys scrimmage, he calls the plays for us. So we’re already getting him involved and I’m just blessed to have him as part of the program.” But Dillingham is thinking bigger than just one season.

And appearing on Next Up with Adam Breneman, he made a bold claim about the future of ASU football. Kenny Dillingham stated, “I mean, every year, every decade, there’s a team. And I tell our staff this, I tell people this: 2000-2010, Oregon showed up. Research it. Yeah. 2011-2020, Clemson showed up. Boom. People look at those teams as blue bloods now. Maybe the older heads don’t look at them as blue bloods. But if you’re an 18 to 17-year-old, they’re blue bloods. All they’ve known is those schools winning. Who’s gonna be the team from 2020 to 2030? Who’s going to be this era’s team that shows up, and the next generation of kids looks at them differently? I really think we can do that here. I firmly believe it.”

And the moment the news dropped, Sun Devil fans were all in. And why wouldn’t they be? Just look at Dillingham’s vision for this team. “Now, the city, the place — if we, from the commitment from the university to the city to the fans selling out, to the staff all returning this year — I really believe this place has the tools necessary for kids 10 years from now to be like, ‘Whoa.’ They weren’t always this good. Like, ‘Oh,’ because sometimes I show that to recruits, and they’re like, ‘Whoa. They weren’t always like a 12-win team like Clemson is now, or a 10-win team.’ Like, no, this just happened,” said ASU HC. Looks like Dillingham sees the future and he’s building it now.

Voices in unison on Kenny Dillingham

Although the ASU future is burning bright, this isn’t just about quick wins. It’s about building something bigger — something that lasts. And Dillingham isn’t just coaching a team; he’s creating a powerhouse. See, under his leadership, ASU isn’t just winning games — it’s reigniting the program. And the results speak for themselves. In his first season, Dillingham led the Sun Devils to an 11–2 record, a Big 12 Championship, and a spot in the CFP. As of now, the turnaround was nothing short of legendary, earning him the 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year award. So, ASU isn’t rising, they’re storming onto the national stage.

And ASU wasted no time locking in their leader. After just one season, they rewarded Kenny Dillingham with a new five-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Big 12. While his impact was undeniable, his vision was clear. And one fan put it best: “This man single-handedly has the whole valley rallying behind him. Arizona legend.” Another fan added, “He must be a good coach that players and staff trust and agree with.”

As of now, Kenny Dillingham’s vision for ASU is catching fire, and some wasted no time backing his bold claim about the Sun Devils’ future. “It’s time 💪🏻,” one fan declared. Another kept it simple: “I agree.” But beyond the hype, there’s real love for the head coach. “Love you Kenny,” a fan shared, showing just how much he means to this program. And for some, no words were needed—just pure,”🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.”

But while most fans are giving all the credit to Kenny Dillingham, one took a different approach — shouting out another ASU leader, a basketball coach. “Kenny Dillingham is an amazing coach… and then there is Bobby Hurley. Two totally opposite coaching styles and we see what is successful!!” said a fan.

To be honest, it’s a reminder that success isn’t just about X’s and O’s. But it’s about leadership, culture, and the ability to inspire. And right now, Dillingham is proving he’s got the formula.