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Scottsdale native Kenny Dillingham introduced as ASU coach

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Tribune Sports Editor

Kenny Dillingham became emotional after his two-word initial statement Sunday, Nov. 27 at Sun Devil Stadium. “I’m home. This is literally home. Home,” Dillingham said before taking a brief pause to gather himself. “So, I say that because this place is special. This state is special. The people in this room are special. “Pretty emotional. That’s just who I am … I’m fired up to be here. Fired up to be a Sun Devil.” Dillingham, an alum of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, was introduced as the next head football coach at Arizona State. It was a search school Athletic Director Ray Anderson said months to perform.

It began in September when former coach Herm Edwards and the schools agreed to mutually part ways and opened the door for Anderson and university President Michael Crow to search for a Scottsdale native and Chaparral alum Kenny Dillingham was announced Sunday, Nov. 27 as the next head coach of Arizona State. He was introduced during a press conference at Sun Devil Stadium alongside Arizona State Deputy Athletics Director Jean Boyd, “left,” Athletic Director Ray Anderson and President Michael Crow. (Katelyn MacCrory/Sun Devil Athletics)

candidate that they believed would truly love leading the Sun Devil program. They believe they found that in Dillingham.

“This was a coast-to-coast extensive search,” Anderson said. “We looked at multiple candidates at various points of their career of all varieties … This new head coach had to be in tune with and relatable to the new era student-athlete. Energetic, flexible, adaptable, collaborative, innovative, great partner, great personality, great listener, great experiences winning and learning from others, strong, passionate about this place. “As young as he is, the multitude of accomplishments and successes Kenny Dillingham brought to the table was undeniable.” Dillingham’s coaching career began as a senior in high school at Chaparral. An injury derailed his playing career, but he stuck around under former coach and current Idaho State head coach Charlie Ragle.

He quickly moved up through the ranks at Chaparral and eventually became offensive coordinator before he graduated from Arizona State in 2013. He then joined former ASU coach Todd Graham’s staff as a graduate assistant, where he remained until 2015. seeDILLINGHAMpage 23

Eastmark football wins first school championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Tribune Sports Editor

Eastmark vividly recalls the first time it lined up against Thatcher on the football field back in late August.

The Firebirds held a 21-7 lead at the half, but that was quickly taken away by the Eagles run game. Eastmark ended up losing on a last-second field goal. So, when the Firebirds again led Thatcher 21-7 at halftime of the 3A state championship game on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Desert Vista High School, they knew they couldn’t let off the gas. And they didn’t.

Instead, Eastmark continued to showcase its high-powered offense en route to a 42-21 win over the Eagles, which secured the school’s first state championship. “The first time we played them we didn’t have three of our key players,” Eastmark coach Scooter Molander said. “To shut down their offense is very difficult. Thatcher has a lot of tradition and they’re extremely well-coached. We’re proud to get this victory, for sure.” The Firebirds simply fired on all cylinders. Senior quarterback Mack Molander saved one of his best performances of the season for the biggest game of his career.

Even when pressured by Thatcher’s defense, he extended plays with his legs. When he was given time to throw, he seeEASTMARKpage 23

Dillingham’s coaching career then took him to several schools. He went to Memphis with Mike Norvell where he remained until 2018, where he eventually became the offensive coordinator. In 2019 he joined Gus Malzahn’s staff at Auburn before reconnecting with Norvell at Florida State.

He spent this past season as the offensive coordinator at Oregon.

“I knew the best way to get this dream opportunity was to be the very best I could be every day,” Dillingham said. “That’s who I am. You wake up every single day and try to be the best version of yourself. It motivated me more to work.” Dillingham’s ties to the Valley and state of Arizona run deep. He spent the last season actively recruiting the state for Oregon and emphasized Sunday during his introductory press conference how important it is to keep talent in-state at Arizona State. Part of that, Dillingham said, will have to do with who he has on staff. He announced former Chandler coach and running backs coach Shaun Aguano, who served as the interim head coach after Edwards’ departure and re-energized the program, would remain on staff. He said some of the rest of his staff would be put in place quickly while others will take time. Dillingham said he aims to have a staff that is dedicated to Arizona and knows how important it is for Arizona State to be successful. He didn’t go into further detail about who he is targeting for his staff, but rumors have swirled that it would involve current Arizona high school football coaches and some athletic directors. “Our staff is going to be people who will build relationships in this Valley because they love this Valley,” Dillingham said. “We’re going to hire a staff that has roots and connections here in Arizona.” Dillingham showed passion, humility and an overall love for Arizona State during his press conference. He said coaching the Sun Devils is his “dream job,” and became emotional and animated on several occasions.

The 32-year-old is the youngest coach among Power Five schools. And while he comes in with no prior head coaching experience, he understands along with recruiting the state and hitting the transfer portal that Name, Image and Likeness has to become a priority moving forward. The Sun Angel Collective was established by Sun Devil Athletics to assist athletes in NIL deals. It came with an initial million-dollar donation from boosters. But on Sunday during Dillingham’s introduction, booster and ASU alum Nap Lawrence pledged another million to the 501 (c) (3) public charity. Dillingham stood and applauded. “We’re ready when everybody is ready,” Dillingham said of Arizona State’s readiness level to compete from an NIL perspective. “We need everybody. We just got

EASTMARK from page 22

picked apart the Eagle secondary. Behind his arm Eastmark jumped out to an early lead and only extended it as the game went on. Eastmark’s first score of the game came early in the second quarter. Mack, scrambling out of the pocket, took it in himself from 15 yards out. A fumble by Thatcher allowed the Firebirds to capitalize on the short field and Mack again ran into the end zone on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

Thatcher managed to close the gap late in the second quarter, but Mack quickly led the Firebirds down the field again. He found senior wideout Austin Johnston, who made a leaping grab along the sideline, to set up the offense inside the red zone. From there, the two connected again to take a two-score lead into the half. “I honestly have no idea,” Johnston said of his catch along the sideline. “I don’t practice that. It just worked out. It was just a great feeling. The coaching staff put trust in me, and I was able to make a play. “We’ve worked so long for this moment and it’s great to see it finally pay off.” Everything was working for Eastmark. The offense couldn’t be stopped and the defense, led by linebacker Kaden Armstrong and defensive lineman Ramarr Williams, limited Thatcher’s patented ground attack.

Thatcher found some momentum out of the break as quarterback Brandon Napier orchestrated a long drive that resulted in a touchdown. But Mack connected with Johnston twice more in the second half and ran another in himself to put the game officially out of reach.

“Everything worked,” Mack said. “We had counters to everything. Coaches came with a great game plan. They would switch up the four or five-man front. But we would just adapt to everything they threw at us. “(Coaches) did a great job preparing us for that every single week.” Mack finished 14-of-19 for 268 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He added 67 yards and three more touchdowns on the ground. Johnston caught seven passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Jaxon Baily added 53 receiving yards of his own on four receptions. Thatcher running back Cody Jones found success on the ground, accumulating 139 yards and a touchdown. But Eastmark’s smothering defense forced three fumbles, all of which resulted in points.

The win for the Firebirds was met with

Eastmark senior wideout Austin Johnston caught three touchdown passes in Eastmark’s win over Thatcher. He, along with quarterback Mack Molander and others, were pivotal to the Firebirds’ success this season on their way to the state title. (JJ Digos/Tribune Contributor) tears and boisterous cheers from Scooter and the rest of the coaching staff. When he was first hired, 13 players showed up to a camp. He told them they would be the ones to help grow the program into a powerhouse. It took some help from key transfers, including his own son from Queen Creek, but they accomplished the goal.

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a million dollars. That’s unbelievable. He did that to inspire everybody else.” Dillingham said his first initiative as head coach will be to meet the players and become involved within the Arizona State community.

His energy was infectious within the room. The overall reaction from the crowd was similar to the way Aguano won over media in September when he took over head coaching duties. From media to his family and friends he played Little League baseball with as a kid growing up in Scottsdale, many were pleased with Dillingham’s initial message. Not only does he want to make Arizona State into a championship contender, he wants to do it with the support from those across the Valley and state. “We need the Valley behind us. We need the state behind us,” Dillingham said. “We need butts in seats. We need everything this Valley has, all in. Because I am. All in.” 

“It doesn’t happen unless you envision it,” Scooter said. “Those original 13, I’m so happy for them. And the sacrifices families make. It’s not like 35 years ago when I played. It’s a tremendous sacrifice. It’s worth it, I would say now.” Eastmark’s first season of football took place during the COVID-19 year. The Firebirds made the playoffs for the first time last season and lost in the first round. That gave them a chip on their shoulder.

They knew they had the talent to make a run. And even with key players transferring out of the program to 6A and Open Division Basha before the 2022 season, they still were among the favorites all season. The loss to Thatcher in Week 2, according to Scooter, changed the mentality of the team. They wanted to leave no doubt about who they were. They had some slip ups, including the first half of the game against 4A top seed ALA – Gilbert North. But even in that game they came back to win in overtime. Overall, it was a special season for a team that will likely be in the 4A or 5A conference during the next realignment. But for now, they plan to enjoy their 3A championship and the start of yet another dynasty in the southeast Valley. And Scooter has credited his players for the program’s success.

“It’s not about me, it’s about us,” Scooter said. “I wanted to get that trophy out of my hands and into the hands of the players.” 