ASU coach Kenny Dillingham apologizes for postgame comments on kicker

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham has apologized for comments made in his postgame press conference following Saturday’s loss to Cincinnati.

Sun Devils kicker Ian Hershey missed on both of his field goal attempts in the game. Dillingham, in his press conference, bluntly said, “Our kicking game is atrocious,” said that anyone at Arizona State who can kick should email him and said that the Sun Devils would have kicking tryouts on Monday, adding that he was “dead serious.”

Later in the night, Dillingham took to X (formerly Twitter) to take accountability for the loss and apologize.

The first post, which was a quote from a video of the press conference (shared by SunDevilsSource.com on X). The video was of Dillingham saying in part, “I thought I got outcoached.”

Dillingham reiterated that thought in his post, saying “Wasn’t kicking, wasn’t players playing hard enough. Was 100% on me! I’ll be better!”

Wasn’t kicking, wasn’t players playing hard enough. Was 100% on me! I’ll be better! https://t.co/v7VqlBBA7b

— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) October 19, 2024

In a later post on X, Dillingham reiterated that he was to blame for the loss and also apologized for his comments on the kicking game, noting that unlike offense and defense, comments on the kicking game are generally directed at only one person.

“I would like to apologize in my post game press conference,” Dillingham said. “I talked about our kicking game like I do offense/defense. However the kicking game is always directed at one player. I should not have done that and I apologize. This team’s losses will always 100% fall on myself.”

No word on whether the kicking tryout is still going to be held. Dillingham and the Sun Devils have a little more time to figure things out. With a bye in Week 9, Arizona State won’t be in action again until Nov. 2 with a road game against Oklahoma State.

[Kenny Dillingham on X]