Arizona State University head football coach Kenny Dillingham emphasizes family values over monetary incentives in his program. In a recent interview, he expressed his view that while NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are a facet of contemporary college football, they do not serve as the main reason for players to select ASU.
Kyle Dillingham Building Champions On and Off the Field
“Family is very important to me and quality of life in this crazy, crazy profession,” Dillingham commented. He emphasized the importance of authenticity in recruitment, ensuring the program’s promises to players correspond with its internal culture.
Dillingham emphasized that his coaching philosophy ensures players and staff preserve strong relationships with their families.
He challenged the typical narrative that coaches must forfeit their family time for the benefit of their players, stating, “It’s very important for us to recruit and say we are going to take care of your son like their family and then not be around our own family—well, somebody’s lying. The whole ‘I’m gonna sacrifice my family for your son’—no, there’s some caveat there; that’s not the truth.”
Dillingham actively promotes connections between players’ and coaches’ families to foster a robust family atmosphere. He shared a touching tradition that his wife maintains: baking cookies for the entire team every Friday.
“My wife makes cookies for the entire team on Fridays. She makes 120 Oreo cookies; you can ask our players about them,” he noted. This straightforward yet meaningful gesture helps strengthen the sense of belonging and unity within the team.
More Than Just a Professional Sport
As college football becomes increasingly professionalized due to NIL deals and financial incentives, Dillingham firmly believes that a nurturing, community-oriented environment is essential for success.
“Everybody’s making this a professional sport. My players get paid well, but that’s not why they’re here. They’re here because they want to be here, because they like it here, because of the family, because of the community,” he affirmed.
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Dillingham’s approach at Arizona State is focused on creating an environment where players feel appreciated not only as athletes but as individuals. He aspires to develop a team that flourishes on and off the field by emphasizing relationships and a sense of belonging.
As college football continues to change, Dillingham’s dedication to family-first values stands as a refreshing contrast to the sport’s increasingly transactional nature. His method demonstrates that success is not solely based on financial prospects but also on building a sincere, supportive community for players to develop and thrive.
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