Kenny Dillingham wants ASU’s version of Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell to come forward

TEMPE — After a new deal with additional finances for the program, there’s just one missing piece to Arizona State football support in Kenny Dillingham’s mind: a big-spending booster.

Teams around the Big 12 have seen significant boosts in recent years thanks to wealthy donors, such as Texas Tech with oil billionaire (and former offensive lineman) Cody Campbell or BYU with Crumbl CEO Jason McGowan.

Without naming the aforementioned programs or donors specifically, Dillingham said it’d be hard to fathom the Valley not having an ASU fan capable of being that.

“We need one of these really rich people in this city to step up and (write) a check and I’ll do everything I can to make (them) the most famous person in the city,” Dillingham said Saturday. “That’s really what we need. We need one person.

“We live in Phoenix, Arizona. You’re telling me there’s not one person who can (write) a $20 million check right now? There’s somebody who can.”

He added “there’s somebody out here” that will see the plea, recognize they’re able and mobilize into action.

Kenny Dillingham says the missing piece at ASU is a big-spending donor akin to Texas Tech's Cody Campbell.

"We live in Phoenix, Arizona. You're telling me there's not one person who could (write) a $20 million check right now? There is somebody out here who can." pic.twitter.com/MezC2MrrgN

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) December 20, 2025

While he didn’t mean ASU alumni golfers Phil Mickelson or Jon Rahm as candidates for that specifically, he later named the two as people he’d like to get involved in some fashion.

“Can we get people back involved in this program and get them involved in a level that everybody knows, man, these guys love Arizona State and these guys are willing to sacrifice something for it,” Dillingham said.

Kenny Dillingham says ASU stepped up as an institution

Without a big-spender in tow, support from ASU president Michael Crow was key to the new deal, and it will continue to be a factor in further growing support.

“He’s stepped up, and I don’t think I’ve ever said (the university hasn’t) since I’ve been here,” Dillingham said. “I’ve alluded to more, more, more, and I’ll always say that. If I’m not saying that, I’m doing something wrong.

“Has he rung the bell and answered the bell over and over again? Yes, but at the end of the day, the university can only do so much alone, right?”

Dillingham said Crow is committed to further fundraise together and that a long-term plan is in place to do so.

“I’ll say this: there’s a lot more in this Valley. There’s a lot more meat on the bone, and when I say a lot more, I mean a full tomahawk more of meat on the bone here,” Dillingham said. “There are people out here that can step up and absolutely change the game here and take just one more step.

“That’s just the challenge, just constantly taking one more step.”

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