The college football coaching carousel hasn’t even started spinning yet, but one name is already being tossed around in some early betting odds: Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham. According to BetOnline, Dillingham has the best odds to become Auburn’s next head coach, sitting at 3/1.
That’s a surprising name to see at the top of the list, but it speaks to how quickly Dillingham’s stock has risen. At just 34 years old, he’s one of the youngest head coaches in the Power Four and already has a strong reputation as an offensive mind. He’s coached at some major stops, Oregon, Auburn, Memphis, and now leads his hometown program at Arizona State. That last part is important, because Dillingham has called ASU his dream job on multiple occasions. He grew up in Phoenix, graduated from Arizona State, and has made it clear he wants to build something long-term in Tempe.
So while the oddsmakers might see Auburn as a logical next step, the reality is a little more complicated. Dillingham has deep roots at Arizona State, and unless things go south quickly there, it’s tough to see him walking away from a job he chased for most of his career. That said, Auburn is a different kind of opportunity. It’s a top-tier SEC job with serious resources and a passionate fan base. The pressure is high, but so is the ceiling.
From Auburn’s perspective, Dillingham would bring energy and a modern offensive approach. He already spent time there as an assistant under Gus Malzahn, so he knows the landscape. The Tigers haven’t had much stability at the top since Malzahn’s departure, and Dillingham could offer a reset with long-term potential. Whether he’d be willing to take that on so soon after landing at Arizona State is the big question.
For now, it’s just odds on a betting site. No interviews, no reports of contact, and no public signs that Dillingham is looking around. But when you see his name at the top of the board, ahead of coaches with far more experience, it tells you how high his ceiling is viewed nationally. Auburn could go in a dozen different directions, but if they want a young, offensive-minded head coach with upside, Kenny Dillingham will be on the list.
