Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham has got the program way ahead of schedule in its rebuild post-Herm Edwards.
After a rough three-win season that was capped with a self-imposed bowl ban, Dillingham has led the revamped Sun Devils to a 9-2 record after the team was picked to finish dead last in the Big 12 preseason media poll.
Heading into Saturday's Territorial Cup, ASU is in a "win-and-in" position to clinch a spot in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game against arch-rivals Arizona.
While everyone else is focused on the gridiron preparation of "hAte week," Dillingham took some time to spread some love amongst the underappreciated members of the football staff.
Kenny Dillingham gifts his $200k bonus to off-field football staff
According to Sun Devil Source's Chris Karpman, Dillingham was awarded a $200,000 contract incentive bonus after the win against No. 14 BYU for reaching nine wins this season.
On Monday, he reportedly gathered 20 off-field staffers and told them they were all getting $5-10k bonuses for their hard work towards the success of the program this year.
But here's the heartstring tugger, per Karpman, sources within the program revealed that Dillingham took his $200,000 bonus and essentially re-gifted it to the off-field staff but didn't clue them in on that aspect.
Talk about a self-less leader. Dillingham, an ASU alum, has really not taken being the leader of this program for granted and explained his passion for the team on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday.
The team has really bought into his messaging too and displays of humility and gratitude like this are an even better off-field example to set for the boys in the locker room.
It's also a great rebound for Dillingham after receiving criticism for his on-field antics during the chaotic ending to the BYU game in Week 13.
Even if ASU falls to the dreaded Wildcats in Tucson on Saturday, Sun Devil fans can be proud and excited to have Dillingham at the helm for the foreseeable future.