After guiding Arizona State to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff spot, Kenny Dillingham is set to receive a significant contract boost, with his 2025 salary set at $5.8 million—nearly a $1.7 million increase, pending approval in a special ABOR session on Thursday.
Dillingham’s contract includes performance-based incentives that could raise his salary by $100k-$350k for achieving 6-11 wins each season over the next five years. If approved, this deal would place him among the top third of Big 12 head coaches based on available salary data.
The contract, running through December 31, 2029, also includes an option for an additional year if certain “extension trigger events” are met in the coming seasons, as long as the Sun Devils remain bowl-eligible.
BREAKING: Kenny Dillingham's new contract agreement will pay him $5.8 million in 2025, a raise of nearly $1.7 million if approved in a special ABOR session Thursday.
Automatic trigger increases can boost his following-year salary by $100k-$350k for wins 6-11 in a given season. pic.twitter.com/U75mosnNhu
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) January 15, 2025
At just 34 years old, Dillingham made history as the first coach born in the 1990s to take a team to a bowl game. His 2024 season marked a dramatic turnaround from a 3-9 record in his first year, culminating in an 11-3 record, a Big 12 Championship win over Iowa State, and a thrilling double-overtime loss to Texas in the Peach Bowl.
For his efforts, Dillingham earned over $2 million in performance bonuses, in addition to a base salary of $4.05 million—placing him in the bottom third of the Big 12 in base pay. Under his new deal, he will rank among the top five highest-paid Big 12 coaches for 2025, with only BYU’s Kalani Sitake having a salary not publicly disclosed due to the private nature of the school.
Dillingham will also receive a $1 million bonus within 30 days of the contract amendment’s approval. His contract includes further attainable bonuses, given the strong position of his team as he enters his third year as head coach.
Despite the loss of standout running back Cam Skattebo to the NFL Draft, the Sun Devils are still seen as one of the Big 12’s top contenders in 2025. The team has retained key players like sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt, junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, and three all-conference defensive players, while also securing extensions for offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward. Additionally, no regular starters left through the transfer portal.
