In college football, there are a lot of teams with big-money backers, from Nike co-founder Phil Knight boosting Oregon to the many alums boosting schools like Texas, LSU, and others. One person who wants this kind of support is Kenny Dillingham, who just signed a new contract with the Arizona State Sun Devils for $7.5 million a year.
He spoke to the press after re-signing with the Sun Devils as their head coach, and there, he expressed frustration about how schools other than Arizona State get significantly more donations from big-money boosters.
“We need to find one of these really rich people in this city to step up and stroke a check,” he said.
“We need to find one of these really rich people in this city to step up and stroke a check”
Kenny Dillingham today after agreeing to a five-year extension to stay at Arizona State, worth $7.5 million per year
(via @Blakes_Take2) pic.twitter.com/Q6xnkmZXrg
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 20, 2025
Soon enough, however, fans online took to the comments and blasted Dillingham for his apparent hypocrisy on the matter.
“when Kenny Dillingham realizes he’s one of the really rich people in that city,” said one fan.
when Kenny Dillingham realizes he’s one of the really rich people in that city. pic.twitter.com/nPxdfi4uAw
— #️⃣🔟 Sebastian’s Pub (@SebastiansPub) December 21, 2025
“With that contract he just signed, he could donate 20 million himself and still have 17.5 million left. Just saying,” said another fan.
“When a person shows you how who they are Believe them A immature football coach,” added another commenter.
“He could have taken less…” one fan stated.
“What pathetic begging. Someone is panicking,” commented another person.
“That’s college football in 2025. Facilities, NIL, and support matter as much as play-calling,” one X user replied.
While Arizona State has produced plenty of sports stars, it does not have that many boosters or wealthy alumni to help fund its various sports programs, and this was what Dillingham was talking about.
Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State Coaching Staff Will Also Get A Pay Raise
It is not just Kenny Dillingham who is getting a pay raise with his new contract at Arizona State, but also his staff. According to Arizona Central, they will be receiving a major raise with a pool of money of around $11 million.
Arizona State hopes that this injection of money will help revitalize Sun Devils fans, though with the new NIL landscape, Dillingham himself believes that this would not be enough.
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