Arizona State’s football program has felt like a rollercoaster since head coach Kenny Dillingham took over the program in November of 2022.

From the highs of running back Cam Skattebo’s touchdown pass in the 2025 Peach Bowl to the lows of quarterback Sam Leavitt’s mysterious ankle injury that led to his eventual transfer, peaks and valleys have plagued Dillingham’s tenure in the valley.

While names have come and gone, the Phoenix native prides himself on building up the culture of his program, making it a steady force in the Big 12 and the entirety of Division I football.

Dillingham spoke to the media on Tuesday, March 17, for his first official press conference of the spring, and while questions about positional battles along with health updates dominated the conversation, the focus on mindset and culture rang louder. 

“This is all about the team,” Dillingham said, “and how we can grow this group of guys into a team that cares about each other, that want what’s best for each other, and understand that team success is individual success.”

ASU’s head coach has been pivotal in changing the culture surrounding Sun Devil Football, including his “Activate the Valley” slogan that has made its way onto shirts, signs and many homes in the greater Phoenix area.

Dillingham himself acknowledges that he has a “different” way of doing things, mentioning how important being honest to his players is not only builds a culture, but also builds a relationship with himself and his team.

“We are going to coach you up, not coach you down,” Dillingham said. “I go in the locker room every day and try to build relationships, try to get to know them so I do know how to coach players, but I’m not ever going to shy away from the truth.”

Dillingham arrived in Tempe to a program without an identity, and by telling the truth, is in the middle of bringing a new era to a school that desperately needed it.

While most coaches try to replicate the culture of other top universities and teams, Dillingham brings his authentic self to every practice, game and meeting, while advocating for his players to do the same.

“I’m just me, I’m not trying to be somebody else,” he said. “I’d be worse than I am now, right? Which would be horrible, so I just try to be me.”

Be yourself, avoid mental mistakes and have fun doing it, three things that the fan favorite coach preaches.

Dillingham knows he’s not just a football coach, but also a leader of young men, one who is pivotal for their football development as well as their personal growth.

Now entering his fourth season coaching the Sun Devils, new customs and traditions are found all over Tempe, with no one else to thank than Dillingham himself.

This Spring will be an opportunity for many new faces to prove their worth and gain their coach’s trust, and in that regard, the roller coaster fans are used to will continue to take place.

The process, however, will be anything but a rollercoaster, and Dillingham is confident that he and ASU are building something special.

“Culturally, we are where I want to be,” he said.