Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham is committed to building a strong bond with his players. His philosophy centers around the idea of family, and he takes extra steps to make sure his team feels connected. In a conversation with college football analyst Adam Breneman, Dillingham explained how he integrates his personal life into coaching.
Kenny Dillingham’s Focus on Family Culture
Dillingham ensures that his words hold weight when speaking with the parents of recruits. He emphasizes that he will care for their sons like his own, making family a key part of Arizona State’s culture.
To reinforce this, he and his wife include the team in their family traditions. One notable example is his wife’s effort to bake cookies for the entire team every Friday.
“Family is very important to me. And quality of life in this crazy, crazy profession is very important to me. For us to recruit and say, ‘We’re going to take care of your son like they’re family,’ and then not be around our own family – well, somebody is lying,” Dillingham said.
The 34-year-old believes in maintaining balance. He wants players to see their coaches spending time with their families, reinforcing the culture he preaches.
“The whole ‘I’m going to sacrifice my family for your son’ — No. There’s some caveat there that’s not the truth. And for us, I think we genuinely want our players to see us around our kids, around our wives. We want them to have relationships with them,” he explained.
Dillingham’s leadership and family-first approach translated to on-field success. Arizona State had an impressive 2024 season, finishing with an 11-3 record and winning the Big 12 Championship. Their performance earned them the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff, securing a first-round bye.
Arizona State’s Successful 2024 Season
The Sun Devils’ playoff run ended in a hard-fought quarterfinal loss to Texas, 39-31, in double overtime. Despite the defeat, their ability to compete at an elite level proved that the program was headed in the right direction.
Arizona State now turns its attention to the 2025 season, aiming to capitalize on its recent success. The Sun Devils will face stiff competition from teams like Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Texas, but Dillingham’s team has shown they can hold their own.
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His approach goes beyond wins and losses. By fostering a close-knit environment, he is creating a culture that players want to be part of. With a strong foundation in place, Arizona State has the potential to make another deep run and become one of the biggest stories of the 2025 college football season.
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