ASU receives $10 million donation toward head football coaching position

Arizona State University announced Friday that it received a $10 million donation to endow its head football coaching position.

The investment will go toward supporting head coach Kenny Dillingham and the football program. The funds will support:

• Recruiting and retaining coaches and staff
• Retaining, recruiting and compensating Sun Devil Football student-athletes as allowed by the NCAA
• New technologies to improve athletes’ development

The gift from ASU alumnus Brian Swette, a former PepsiCo senior executive and eBay chief operating officer, and his wife, Kelly, is the largest endowed leadership position at the university, according to a news release.

“The dynamics of athletics has changed with NIL and the (transfer) portal,” Swette said. “It requires a new type of leadership. Kenny is uniquely suited to success. We are proud to support him.”

This is the second coaching position to be endowed at ASU after ice hockey head coach Greg Powers’ position was endowed in late 2025.

Dillingham, who has previously called for a big-spending booster in support of ASU football, posted on X to thank the Swettes for the donation.

Thank you to Brian and Kelly Swette for believing in the vision of the program! Happy to have the Head Coaching Position endowed by great people and great supporters of not just ASU football but the Valley as a whole! This is the largest endowed position at ASU thanks to them,… https://t.co/g0xAsVDq0j

— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) May 1, 2026

The donation toward Dillingham and the head football coaching position comes after Dillingham’s contract extension was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in February.

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