University of Memphis Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
- Email:
- tigers@memphis.edu
- Phone:
- 901-678-5119
Kenny Dillingham is in his third season at Memphis and, for the third-straight year, he takes on a new role. In 2017, Dillingham adds offensive coordinator to his duties, while remaining as the program’s quarterbacks coach.
In taking over the offensive coordinator role, Dillingham becomes one of the youngest assistant coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to do so.
In 2018, Dillingham will be given the keys to one of the nation’s most-dynamic offenses over the past two seasons. In 2016 and 2017, the Tigers piled up nearly 13,000 yards of total offense -— 12,945, to be exact — and scored 129 offensive touchdowns. Memphis ranked 28th in the FBS in total offense in 2016 and made a hugh jump in 2017, moving to No. 4 nationally in total offense.
However, seeing high-powered offenses is nothing new for Dillingham, as he played a part in constructing the Memphis attack the past two seasons. The 2017 Tigers obliterated the school record book with season marks for points (592), total plays (941), total yards (6,917), passing yards (4,355), completions (307), attempts (488), offensive touchdowns (72) and passing touchdowns (39). The 2017 Memphis offense became the first in program history to have a 4,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in the same season.
That offensive explosion came on the heels of the 2016 season that, at the time, was the second-best offense in program history (2016 is third now behind 2017 and 2015). In 2016, the Tigers rolled up 6,028 total yards and 505 points and scored 57 touchdowns, all of which are now the third-most in school history.
In 2017, Dillingham coached the quarterbacks and tight ends, and both played pivotal roles in the Tigers having one of the country’s high-flying offenses.
Dillingham continued his mentorship of Riley Ferguson in 2017, and the Tigers quarterback blossomed into one of the nation’s top signal-callers. Ferguson finished 2017 as the country’s third-best quarterback for passing yards (4,257) and touchdowns (38). Ferguson also matured into a outstanding decision-maker under Dillingham’s tutelage, throwing only nine interceptions compared to his 38 scores. Ferguson had a better than 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and among the nation’s quarterbacks with 30 or more touchdown tosses last season, he was tied for second-fewest interceptions (only 2017 Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield had fewer with six picks).
Not only was Dillingham’s ability to develop talent seen at quarterback, it also was evident with the other position he coached in 2017 — tight ends. Dillingham entered the campaign with little experience at tight end, but charged with carrying on the recent Tigers tradition of solid performers at that position. Dillingham molded the 2017 group to be a key piece in the team’s success. The tight ends, led by Joey Magnifico and Sean Dykes, combined for 650 yards on 38 catches with six touchdowns. The Tigers’ utilization of the tight end gave the squad some clutch plays in 2017. Magnifico’s first score of the season came in the upset over No. 25 UCLA, and Dykes’ touchdown reception in the amazing comeback victory at Houston proved to be the game winner.
Dykes also had a big performance versus UCF in The American Championship Game, posting career highs for catches (3) and receiving yards (161). His 53.7 yards-per-catch is a school single-game record. For his efforts, Magnifico was named to the All-American Athletic Conference second team. It was the fourth-straight season a Tigers tight end received all-league honors (Alan Cross in 2014, 2015; Daniel Montiel in 2016).
In his first season in the Bluff City in 2016, Dillingham served as a graduate assistant coach who worked with the program’s quarterbacks.
Under Dillingham’s guidance in 2016, Ferguson, a first-year FBS starter, thrived at quarterback. Ferguson’s 3,698 yards and 280 completions both are third and his 443 attempts are tied for second on the Tigers season charts. He tossed 32 touchdown passes to set a then-program season mark, only to break his own mark a season later (38 in 2017). Ferguson had seven 300-yard passing performances, the second-most for a season in school history.
Prior to coming to Memphis, Dillingham served on the Arizona State staff as an offensive assistant in 2014-15. In his time with the Sun Devils, he worked directly with the tight ends and also assisted in recruiting, with his primary focus being the state of Arizona.
Before joining the collegiate football ranks, Dillingham served as a coach in the Athletes in Training program from 2008-10. He also worked for the City of Scottsdale (Ariz.) as a football camp manager from 2009-13. Over that same period of time, Dillingham served in several capacities – from freshman coach to offensive coordinator – with the Chaparral High School.
Dillingham married the former Briana Pimpton in February of 2018.Â
