Arizona State AD Graham Rossini wants HC Kenny Dillingham ‘to be a Sun Devil for life’

Like the other football team in the Valley, Arizona State football has defied expectations. An 8-2 record following back-to-back 3-9 seasons and preseason predictions of dead last in the Big 12 just about confirms that.

It’s remarkable what ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham has done with the team, taking the reins of a seemingly doomed program following the departures of former head coach Herm Edwards and athletic director Ray Anderson and putting it in contention for a Big 12 title.

With that being said, is it fair to say that we could see a contract extension for Dillingham soon?

Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini assured Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Thursday that the plan is not only to keep Dillingham, who’s current contract runs through 2028, but to ensure he has the resources to sustain the team’s upward trajectory for years to come.

“We want Kenny to be a Sun Devil for life,” Rossini said. “That’s an easy conversation and we’re prepared to take that on. We want to make sure we keep the core group of coaches, assistants and coordinators in place and give them every resource to maintain this roster at the highest level.

“We’ve been in close contact on that all season long and making sure he’s set up for success,” Rossini added. “We’ve added to his budget and made sure they’ve got the tools they need to be successful. … We’ve got a young team that’s got a chance to be a generational group of Sun Devils, and we want to make sure they’re focused on the right things and that we’re investing in their journey here.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt has recently stated that he wants to be in Tempe for the long haul. And that seems to be the vibe all around the Arizona State football program, stemming from the players on the field to the coaching staff.

“We want Kenny to be a Sun Devil for life.”

Graham Rossini on the future of head coach Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State: pic.twitter.com/CsiM0dHO0P

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 21, 2024

Like Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, “A connected team is a dangerous team.”

But for now, it’s about focusing on the little things, like keeping everything intact, from the team to the fanbase. The goal is to make Sun Devil Athletics the best it could possibly be.

“He wants to be here forever. I want to be here forever. We’re going to work on those conversations when it’s the right time,” Rossini said. “Right now, it’s keep the team intact, keep the fanbase connected, keep building resources that’ll allow us to do all of these things.

“We’re trying to drive value; we’re trying to reinvest in everything we’re doing. … That’s a commitment from ASU leadership that we want to be as highly competitive as we can. That was my marching orders when I took the position. I want Sun Devil Athletics to be as successful as it can possibly be.”