Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham lands on Dodd Trophy preseason watch list

Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham’s stock continues to rise, appearing on the preseason watch list for the 2025 Dodd Trophy.

Dillingham is more than familiar with the Dodd Trophy as he was a finalist for the award in 2024 after leading the Sun Devils to a historic 11-3 season in just his second year as head coach.

Coach Kenny Dillingham of @ASUFootball is a finalist for the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year 🏆

Repost to cast your fan vote for Coach Dillingham 🔁 Fan Voting for the #DoddTrophy is open until 11:59 pm on 12/20. #ForksUp | Presented by @PNCBank pic.twitter.com/m72TxwEIhQ

— The Dodd Trophy (@thedoddtrophy) December 17, 2024

Dillingham earned his spot as one of the 2024 finalists after he took an Arizona State team that was 3-9 in 2023 and turned it around to a College Football Playoff berth and Big 12 Championship in 2024.

Dillingham was also named 2024 Big 12 Coach of the Year for his efforts with the Sun Devils.

The Dodd Trophy is one of college football’s most meaningful national coaching awards, and “celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.”

This year’s preseason watch list includes a total of 26 of the top college football coaches across the country. The selection process is being run by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc.

The selection criteria takes into account “each program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2025 season.”

A midseason watch list will be released in the fall that will narrow down the list of coaches before the eventual winner is announced during the College Football Playoff Semifinal in Atlanta.

2025 Dodd Trophy preseason watch list includes ASU’s Kenny Dillingham

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