Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham on Monday apologized again for comments he made after last Saturday’s loss at Cincinnati and said his reaction failed kicker Ian Hershey.
Dillingham said he realized shortly after the postgame news conference that his comments affected Hershey, who had missed two fourth-quarter field goals in a 24-14 loss.
“I’ve never in my career done anything that’s had a negative effect on a kid and I’ve had some really bad seasons, some really bad pay,’’ Dillingham told reporters Monday. “Absolutely failed him.”
Hershey missed from 48 and 41 yards against Cincinnati. Overall, the redshirt sophomore has made 7 of 12 field goals, but from 30 yards and beyond, he is 3 of 8.
After the Cincinnati loss, Dillingham called Arizona State’s kicking game atrocious. He invited interested Arizona State students to email him and said the program would have a tryout on Monday. “I’m dead serious,” Dillingham told reporters. “… We got to find somebody who can make a field goal.”
Dillingham later posted an apology on social media. He said he talked about Arizona State’s kicking situation like he would the team’s offense or defense. “However the kicking game is always directed at one player. I should not have done that and I apologize,’’ Dillingham posted. “This team’s losses will always 100% fall on myself.”
I would like to apologize in my post game press conference 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.…
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) October 19, 2024
Dillingham on Monday said Arizona State had received “a bunch” of emails following his announcement, and that the staff was vetting them. He also said he has confidence in the kickers on Arizona State’s roster — Hershey, grad student Parker Lewis and redshirt freshman Carston Kieffer.
“At the end of the day, we have three guys who are collegiate kickers that are really good,’’ Dillingham said. “And they are. We got to do a better job with them to get them more confident.”
Arizona State (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) visits Oklahoma State on Nov. 2.
(Photo of Ian Hershey: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)
