Kenny Dillingham’s Secret Weapon Behind ASU’s Success Gets Flowers as Insider Shares Surprising Past Revelations

Arizona State Sun Devils’ scriptwriters deserve an Oscar. Just a year ago, the Sun Devils were mired in mediocrity, picked dead last in the Big 12 preseason poll. Fast forward to today, and they’ve flipped the entire narrative, storming to an 11-2 record, a Big 12 title which was their first outright conference title since 1996, and a coveted spot in the playoffs. How about that for a retaliation? Head coach Kenny Dillingham is receiving plenty of credit, but every great leader has a behind-the-scenes genius working their magic.

The CFB Analyst for CBS Sports and 3x All-American TE, Adam Breneman, is one of the most recognized voices in the league. He dropped the tea on X after ASU’s dominant 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship. With a caption that explains everything, enter Joe Connolly, the strength coach who has become the secret weapon behind Arizona State’s jaw-dropping turnaround. “Arizona State has completely flipped the script in year two under Kenny Dillingham, and a huge reason for that is their head strength coach, Joe Connolly,” Breneman revealed. “I trained under him, played for him at UMass, and the dude straight-up gets results for his players.”

Connolly’s impact isn’t just about lifting weights—it’s about transforming mindsets and bodies. Cam Skattebo, ASU’s star running back, is a prime example. Skattebo shed 10 pounds in the offseason, becoming faster, more explosive, and more dominant. Against Iowa State, he rushed for a jaw-dropping 170 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries. “That has Joe’s fingerprints all over it,” Adam Breneman added. He gets players in shape and gives them confidence. That’s what he’s doing at ASU right now.

If you scroll down, you will see another great one, Josh Pate, lingering with a GOAT comment. Don’t think you need any more credibility checks after that. The results speak for themselves. In just two seasons, Kenny Dillingham has turned a 3-9 team under NCAA sanctions into a physical juggernaut that bullies opponents. Breneman highlighted this transformation, pointing to the line of scrimmage as evidence. “Watch the tape,” he said. “You’ll see the line of scrimmage moving on both sides of the ball constantly. That is straight-up physical domination.” Against Iowa State, a team known for its toughness, ASU didn’t just win—they dismantled the Cyclones, leaving no doubt about their supremacy.

The HC, who began his coaching career at 17 years old, sadly after tearing his ACL during his senior year at Chaparral High School, deserves credit for bringing in the talent. Add it with Connolly’s ability to develop that talent in record time, and it has been nothing short of miraculous.

“The ability for Dillingham to bring in the transfers and then, in a short time, for Connolly to maximize their development is insane,” The UMass TE emphasized. Players trust Connolly because he’s been in their shoes. The analyst shared his personal story of how he gave him confidence by getting him right.

And with no surprise after his services for Arizona, the head coach Dillingham will soon be crowned as he prepares for his big night.

You deserve it coach! Kenny Dillingham finalist for the coach’s MVP

In just his second year at the helm, Kenny Dillingham has taken Arizona State football from “meh” to magnificent. It’s no shocker that he’s one of the nine finalists for the prestigious 2024 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award. This honor, given by the Football Writers Association of America, is the coaching equivalent of an Oscar—so yeah, it’s a big deal.

The competition is stacked. The list includes three seasoned finalists (one from last year), six newcomers, and a jaw-dropping seven coaches leading teams in the College Football Playoff. Oh, and five of them are fresh off conference championship wins. Dillingham? He’s right in the mix with the best of the best, and for good reason. This season, Dillingham was named Big 12 Coach of the Year by his peers—talk about street cred! He led the Sun Devils to their first outright conference championship since 1996. Oh, and those 11 wins? That’s only happened six times in program history, with the last being—you guessed it—back in ’96.

Dillingham now joins the elite ASU company as their third-ever Eddie Robinson finalist, alongside Dennis Erickson (2007) and Bryce Snyder, who won it all in 1996. Can he bring the award back to Tempe?

Collectively, for the Sun Devils, King Kenny has done his job along with his secret weapon of a man.