Kenny Dillingham is proving that he is all in with Arizona State. After drawing all the offseason buzz around joining Michigan, Dillingham agreed to a mid-December contract with the team. But now, a new landmark deal is on its way that not only sets him up for a historic feat but also secures his kids’ future with the team.

As per details from Arizona State insider Chris Karpman, Kenny Dillingham will earn base pay of $6.4 million this year, with a $400k payment already due. Now, these figures await approval from Arizona State’s Board of Regents. The new contract reflects more than just a pay raise for Dillingham; it signals the university’s expanding long-term vision with him as head coach. As Chris Karpman mentioned, the team plans to extend scholarships to his kids in the future.

“ASU agreed to pay the cost of in-state tuition for Dillingham’s children to attend ASU for undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the amended contract. That’s like 15 years away,” Karpman said. “He’s thinking way ahead to a potentially very long future leading the Sun Devils.”

Kenny Dillingham and his wife, Briana, have two sons. Their first son, Kent, was born in October 2021, and the couple welcomed their second son in January 2026. The Arizona Board will now officially approve the deal next week. What’s interesting is that this deal will make him the highest-paid state employee in Arizona’s history. This surpasses a mark previously set only by Arizona State basketball head coach Sean Miller.

Just like Arizona State, even Utah pulled the same stunt with Kyle Whittingham. Under his contract, the program provided his 11 grandchildren with free in-state tuition at Utah until they are unmarried and under 27. The criteria also specify that Whittingham must be alive, not have been terminated for cause, and not be employed as a coach anywhere else.

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Well, this raise makes sense, as Kenny Dillingham revived a doomed program that was searching for relevance under head coach Herm Edwards to a championship-winning team. In 2024, they went to the playoffs with an 11-3 record after a 3-9 season in 2023.

Kenny Dillingham’s staff also received a significant salary increase. Arizona State strengthens its support for all assistant coaches by increasing their salary pool by $2.2 million. This increase helped them keep important coaches, including offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Marcus Arroyo, defensive coordinator Brian Ward, and wide receivers coach Hines Ward.

With his long-term security and staff locked in, Dillingham can now turn his full attention to the most critical on-field question facing the Sun Devils: who will lead the offense from under center?

Kenny Dillingham’s QB dilemma

Notably, Dillingham has a strong reputation for building top QBs, highlighted by Sam Leavitt’s development under his coaching. Now he is entering spring with that pressure and a wide-open competition between Cutter Boley, Mikey Keene, Jake Fette, and Cam Dyer.

Boley brings SEC experience from Kentucky, where he posted a 65.8% completion rate but also had a tough stretch, throwing 12 interceptions during his freshman season. His best performance came against Auburn, where he completed 18 of 23 passes for two touchdowns.

Then there’s Keene from Fresno State, who recorded 2,892 yards with a 70.2% completion rate, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions last season. Being the oldest guy, Keene does have an upper hand. But even Fette is pretty much in the mix, ranking as the No. 7 quarterback in the 2026 class by On3 Rivals. He also brings production, throwing for 2,737 yards and 28 touchdowns during his senior season in Texas.

Last but not least is Cam Dyer, whose time on the field has been limited by injuries. But he still has confidence in his abilities. With four viable candidates, Dillingham faces a difficult but enviable decision that will not only shape Arizona State’s title defense but also test his reputation as a premier quarterback developer.