"I want to be a head coach one day": Kenny Dillingham's best man aspires to follow Deion Sanders' & NFL legends' trail in college

Former NFL star Hines Ward joined Kenny Dillingham's staff as the wide receiver coach this season. Ward, who won two Super Bowls, helped the Arizona State Sun Devils finish with an 11-3 record and win the Big 12 championship in their debut campaign in the conference. However, their quest for a natty came to an end at the hands of the Texas Longhorns in the Peach Bowl CFP quarterfinals.

In an interview on Tuesday with Rivals, Ward opened up about how he wants to follow in the footsteps of other NFL greats such as Coach Prime, and become a successful head coach himself. He also offered words of motivation to Michel Vick and DeSean Jackson, who are beginning their own head coaching careers:

"Just learn as much as you can. I think those guys (Vick, Jackson and Coach Prime) are great leaders of their team. ... For Vick and DeSean and what Deion is doing, I mean all of those guys are great leader of men, and the work that they put into it. So I wish them guys nothing but the best in their head coaching career.

"Ultimately at the end of the day we all do this to try and one day become head coaches. ... I just don't want to be a wide receivers coach. Me its just trying to align my path and my journey of learning more ball, I got a thirst for knowledge. ... I want to be a head coach one day and be able to learn the ins and outs of everything that I need to know about college football."

Before joining Kenny Dillingham's staff, Hines Ward served as the head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL for one season.

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Kenny Dillingham retains starting QB Sam Leavitt for 2025 season

Sam Leavitt joined Kenny Dillingham's team this offseason after transferring from Michigan State. He was named the QB1 in his debut campaign with the program and helped the Sun Devils win the Big 12 championship while making it to the playoffs. Leavitt finished the 2024 campaign with 2,885 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Leavitt has decided to return and play for Arizona State for the 2025 season and has reportedly signed a new deal with the program.

Arizona State rewarded Kenny Dillingham for his hard work this season with an extended five-year contract before their CFP quarterfinal showdown against Texas last week. The extension makes him one of the top-paid Big 12 coaches.