Arizona State poaches Oregon OC for head coaching vacancy: Best memes, reactions
By Scott Rogust
The Arizona State Sun Devils looked over to the Oregon Ducks to hire their head coach to replace Herm Edwards.
Back in mid-September, the Arizona State Sun Devils fired head coach Herm Edwards after a loss to the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The Sun Devils struggled this season, and they were in the midst of a recruiting violations investigation. Running backs coach Shaun Aguano filled in for Edwards on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.
Now, it appears that the Sun Devils have found their next head coach, and they weren’t from inside the Pac-12.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger, Arizona State listed Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham as their next head coach, and that a deal is being finalized.
The college football world shared their thoughts on the 32-year-old coordinator receiving his first head coaching gig.
Arizona State finalizing deal with Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham to be next head coach: Best reactions
This is full circle for Dillingham, an Arizona State graduate who began his collegiate coaching career as an offensive assistant with the program from 2014-15. He then went over to Memphis to work with head Mike Norvell, eventually working his way up to become the Tigers’ offensive coordinator in 2018. After a one-year stint with Auburn as offensive coordinator in 2019, Dillingham followed Norvell to Florida State for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
This season, Dillingham joined Oregon’s program to be the offensive coordinator under head coach and former Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Dan Lanning.
Oregon’s offense is one of the best in the nation. They averaged 511.2 yards (third-most) and 40.2 yards (fourth-most) per game entering Saturday. Quarterback Bo Nix has succeeded in Dillingham’s offense, and became a legitimate Heisman contender for most of the season after accounting for 3,575 yards and 39 touchdowns from scrimmage.
Dillingham will become the youngest head coach in Power Five football once the deal becomes official. Once it does, he’ll have the responsibility to turn the Sun Devils program into a winner.
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