ASU football head coach Kenny Dillingham says Shaun Aguano will remain on staff
Nov 27, 2022, 11:13 AM | Updated: 2:08 pm
Head coaches Jedd Fisch of the Arizona Wildcats and Shaun Aquano of the Arizona State Sun Devils shake hands following the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. This year's game is the 96th annual Territorial Cup match between Arizona rival schools. The Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils 38-35. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Shaun Aguano is staying at Arizona State.
New head coach Kenny Dillingham was introduced Sunday morning, and he confirmed that Aguano will remain on the staff after he served as interim head coach this past season.
“He’s a guy who’s extremely rooted in the Valley, very well respected,” Dillingham said.
Aguano was previously the running backs coach at ASU but took over for Herm Edwards after he and the program parted ways following a loss to Eastern Michigan in Week 3.
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Dillingham asked the media if someone could ask him whether or not he was retaining Aguano, and he emphatically said yes.
“Shaun’s done a remarkable job here,” Dillingham said. “As a person, everybody in this Valley respects him. … I couldn’t be happier. One of the first people I saw when I got here was coach Aguano, and he brings a joy to you when you see him in the room.”
Deputy athletics director Jean Boyd added that Aguano took the program through a difficult stretch after Edwards’ departure. He also noted that Aguano — who coached Chandler High School for 10 years — will continue to be instrumental with NIL, handling 18- to 24-year-olds and having strong connections.
ASU went 2-7 with Aguano as interim head coach. He gave an emotional press conference Friday after ASU’s defeat at Arizona, saying the players inspired him. He also noted that is not an “ego guy,” and that he would do all he could to help the team win in a lower role if given the chance to return.
“I want the Sun Devil nation to win and be successful,” Aguano said. “If that includes me, I’ll do whatever I can to win football games. … Whatever I can do to make Sun Devil nation prominent like it should be and deserves to be, I’ll do whatever that is.”
ASU interim head coach Shaun Aguano on if he’d be willing to accept a lower role on the coaching staff: pic.twitter.com/D8MkaHWKN5
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 26, 2022
Aguano was present for Dillingham’s introductory press conference on Sunday.
Dillingham said some individuals who will be on the coaching staff will come quickly, while he intends to do his due diligence on others.
He explained that his first priority is meeting the players.
