Just like almost every other successful coach right now, Kenny Dillingham’s name is also doing the rounds in various coaching searches. Over 10 programs are looking for head coaches. Dillingham turned it around at Arizona State in a rather quick time. One of the programs vying for his commitment is the Auburn Tigers, following their firing of Hugh Freeze. On his part, the Devils’ HC isn’t exactly saying he’d take the gig.

Dillingham already has had a stint at Auburn. Back in 2019, he served as the offensive coordinator but left after one season to join Mike Norvell. Now, he is back on AD John Cohen’s list. Although interim head coach DJ Burkin is gunning for the head coach role, according to BetOnline, Coach Dillingham has the best odds (3/1) to land the Auburn gig.

He spoke to PHNX Sun Devils and had a rather interesting answer. “I mean, you’re either going to get higher or you’re going to get fired.”

When you’re being considered for some of the best jobs in college football, it is flattering. However, Coach Dillingham understands the ugly side of the whole ordeal as well.

“I say all the time, like, go from sh-t house to Castle and this thing so fast, you better not get wrapped up in the feeling of the day or the week or the moment, because there are people that have been the hottest coach in the country and they’ve gotten fired two years later.”

This can be applied to a number of head coaches who have been let go. Just think of James Franklin. He was one play away from making it to the national championship game. Five games later, Penn State fired the man who got them multiple 10-win seasons.

Dillingham continued, “There are people [who] have won national championships and can’t get jobs, and there are people who are really good football coaches that nobody talks about. So it goes both ways in this field; you just got to keep your head down and just keep working.”

The 35-year-old Dillingham is one of the youngest head coaches in the circuit. Under his coaching, the Auburn Tigers’ offense ranked No. 3 in the SEC in scoring. A year later, he was named a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award at Oregon. But his alma mater was calling, and he answered. Last year, not only did Arizona State win the conference, but it was moments away from causing a huge upset against Texas in the playoffs. So, will Kenny Dillingham leave the Devils?

Will Kenny Dillingham leave ASU?

The ASU had been Dillingham’s dream job all these years. Recently, he had shot down these rumors, saying the Devils are his priority. “I’m trying to win as many games as I can here. That is my number one focus – is our players, our football team, everything about us, that simple. I am so singularly focused on us to win football games, to become a better football team this season. That is my singular focus.”

The ASU coach has been clear in his commitment to his alma mater. “This is literally home. Home,” Dillingham added. “I say that because this place is special. This state is special. I find (rumors) nothing, to be honest. It’s useless. I told our guys today, we live in a reality show… You better not get lost in the show; you better be who you are and be grounded.”

Back in January, he extended his contract with Arizona State. A five-year extension, and he is now the 25th highest-paid college football coach in the country, set to earn $7.44 million this season. And that’s just the base salary; his performance bonus of $8 million is the highest possible bonus among the Big 12 coaches.