TEMPE, Ariz. — Last summer, in the weeks leading up to the regular season, Arizona State center Leif Fautanu sat next to head coach Kenny Dillingham on a team bus. As Fautanu recalled, the Sun Devils were on their way to play paintball, a team-bonding activity.
For some reason, the conversation turned to artificial intelligence. “Leif, watch me write this song about ASU,” Dillingham said. Fautanu looked on as Dillingham typed into his cell phone: “Write a song about the Arizona State Sun Devils winning the Big 12.”
“And AI wrote this whole song,” Fautanu said. “He saved it and sent it to the leadership council. We’re all like, ‘Dude, do you not have anything else to do?’’’
In his second season, Dillingham has led the Sun Devils (11-2) to a Big 12 title and into the College Football Playoff, where they will face Texas (12-2) in Wednesday’s Peach Bowl, among eight teams left in the fight for a national championship.
Dillingham’s positivity and passion are pillars of Arizona State’s program, but his creativity and ability to have fun have added to a culture that the Sun Devils have embraced and owned. It’s helped them get to where they are, winners of six in a row.
Part of this is just who Dillingham is and how he was raised. In a sport rife with stiff CEO-type coaches, the 34-year-old is not afraid to be himself. Players describe Dillingham as fun, energetic and a little goofy. Many say the coach’s favorite phrase is “hot-diggity-damn.”
Music has a role in this, although as far as anyone knows, Dillingham has no talent in this area. He sets the vibe before team meetings. “He’ll get on YouTube and type, ‘The happiest or best songs’ of a certain era,’’ receiver Melquan Stovall said.
“Like even today,” Fautanu said after a recent practice. “The search was, ‘Most iconic songs from the 1970s.’ He played the song and nobody knew what the song was. We were like, ‘START THE MEETING.’’’
Dillingham takes pride in his AI-generated creations. He usually produces them while he’s driving, speaking into his phone. And not just for football.
Dillingham’s parents have neighbors who rent out their house for parties or events. Dillingham created a song entitled, “Homes, Not Hotels.” John Dillingham, the coach’s father, had Dillingham create a song in honor of an old Navy buddy’s 50-year wedding anniversary. Dad’s review: “Fantastic,” he said.
Backup quarterback Trenton Bourguet said the first football song he remembers happened before last season. The Sun Devils were in the weight room and Dillingham walked around asking players for random words about ASU football. Minutes later, a song featuring those contributions blared through the weight-room speakers.
“That’s one thing about coach Dillingham,’’ Bourguet said. “He’s always going to try and find a way to be unique with whatever he does.”
On Dec. 7, Arizona State beat Iowa State in Texas to win the Big 12 championship, cementing a spot in the 12-team Playoff. At 7:55 the next morning, Dillingham posted a video on social media while watching film from his office. In the background, an AI-generated singer that sounded a little like Bob Dylan sang the coach’s celebration ditty.
What a great morning to be a Sun Devil! #TheTeam pic.twitter.com/Ng19vZNYS4
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) December 8, 2024
“Arizona State football, yes this is real
“From worst to first so what’s the deal?
“Started in January where the standard changed
“Then the entire program got rearranged.”
Dillingham insists this improbable run is not about him, but it’s impossible to watch his team and not see his influence. The Sun Devils are confident, prepared and loose. And just like Dillingham, they’re here earlier than expected, upstarts from the desert.
Four things to consider about the head coach:
None of this is an act. Bri Dillingham grew up in the same Scottsdale neighborhood as her future husband. She started dating him in high school, finding him genuine, honest, loyal and funny. She’s been with Dillingham ever since.
That same passion everyone sees on the sideline? Dillingham is like that all the time. “Trust me,’’ Bri said. “He’s just wired that way. You will never catch him off, because he’s genuinely always himself.”
This has been reflected in a couple of viral moments. After Arizona State’s win over Utah on Oct. 11, Dillingham pretty much disappeared into celebrating students after an on-field television interview. Six weeks later against BYU, after Dillingham botched Arizona State’s final possession, officials ruled the Cougars had one second for a final play. This sent Dillingham into a rage, an explosion caught on camera and splashed all over social media.
Long after the white-knuckled win, Bri made a simple request to her husband: “Can we stop being memes?”
“I know a lot of the well-known coaches are very reserved,’’ John Dillingham said. “They’re (reluctant) to say something because they’re afraid that a word will get misinterpreted or they’ll misspeak, and (Kenny) just doesn’t care about that stuff. He just doesn’t. I think as he gets more experience he’ll wind up understanding it better, but I don’t think he’ll ever change.”
*saves for future use* pic.twitter.com/ESsXo3QQOK
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 7, 2024
Kicking butt at a young age. Many Dillingham qualities took root during childhood. Among his favorite stories was the biblical tale of David slinging the stone and defeating Goliath. (See, this season’s Big 12 preseason poll, which listed Arizona State last.)
As a young student, Dillingham participated in a program that taught students how to think outside the box. (See, last season’s win over UCLA, during which short-handed Arizona State had to use swinging-gate sets and wildcat formations because coaches knew the Sun Devils could not block the Bruins.)
As a Little Leaguer, Dillingham, a catcher, called pitches for an All-Star team. The team’s coach, John Dillingham said he knew Dillingham would do well because he understood the pitchers’ strengths and weaknesses. Even better, he knew how to motivate them. “He knew when they needed a kick in the butt,” John said. (See, Dillingham every day since his 2022 hire.)
A competitive spirit goes many ways. Growing up, Dillingham’s initial plan was to attend law school, following in the steps of his father. Even today, those close to Dillingham say he would’ve made an excellent lawyer. One, he’s smart. Two, he loves to argue.
“Oh, everything,” Bri said when asked which topics fire up her husband. “Like, even if he doesn’t believe a certain thing, just to get under his dad’s skin, he will choose the opposite (side) and argue.”
John Dillingham calls it Dillingham’s perspicacity. The quality of having a rare insight into things; shrewdness.
“Kenny’s got a great understanding of everything that’s going on around him,’’ John Dillingham said. “And even though you might not think he does, believe me. He does. He knows everything that he needs to know. He has a great ability to pick up on things very, very quickly and he’s tremendous at reading people.”
Or in football speak: “He’ll talk so much crap to you just to piss you off,’’ Fautanu, the Arizona State center, said. “And when you get pissed off, he knows he’s got to you.”
Staying humble. Near the end of the season, word leaked that Dillingham planned to distribute some of his bonus money to lower-level staffers. Asked about this, Bri said Dillingham called her one day and told her what he was thinking. She thought it was a great idea. And it reminded her of a song.
In a recent interview, Bri twice brought up Tim McGraw’s song, “Humble and Kind,” which Dillingham and his mother danced to at their wedding. Bri said a passage in the second verse sums up her husband.
“When you get where you’re goin’, don’t forget turn back around
“And help the next one in line. Always be humble and kind.”
After a recent practice, Dillingham was asked about his positivity. The Arizona State coach said it comes down to avoiding roadblocks and finding an avenue. It may be difficult, but everyone can try. No excuses.
Dillingham recalled his early days as a graduate assistant and the time then-Arizona State coach Todd Graham demoted him so former quarterback Taylor Kelly could take his position.
“That did not feel good,” Dillingham said. “Was it the right decision? Hell, yes! Taylor Kelly wanted to be a GA! And I was a nobody. Promote Taylor Kelly. But it’s like if you let all that stuff affect you in a negative way and if you don’t just stay focused on the very best version of you, then you’ll never achieve what you could’ve achieved.”
Cam Skattebo and Kenny Dillingham went from being picked to finish last to winning the Big 12. (Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)
Defensive lineman Zac Swanson said he knew Dillingham was different after a phone conversation during his high school recruiting days. At the time, Dillingham was at Florida State, and he asked Swanson to tell him something weird about himself. Swanson told him he likes to take long showers. Dillingham responded in kind, telling Swanson that he could do “The Worm,” a move from the breakdancing era.
“It’s all laughs and jokes, but it’s good to be loose,” said safety Xavion Alford, who previously played at Texas and USC. “We’ve been in the building since January. I’ve been at some places when you walk in, it’s almost like you have to salute, like you’re in the military.”
“I think it makes you play better,” quarterback Sam Leavitt said of the atmosphere.
A few days ago, defensive lineman C.J. Fite appeared on “The Walk,” a podcast that features Christian athletes. Fite was asked what it’s like to play for Dillingham, and the sophomore mentioned a video of the Sun Devils working out. Everyone busted their tails, Fite said, but they laughed while doing so. Not much later Dillingham reposted the interview on social media, and added the principles of his program.
Be A Good Person.
Make Good Decisions.
Have More Fun Working Harder Than Anyone in the Country.
(Top photo: Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
