Arizona State football program gets $10 million endowment

Arizona State football program gets $10 million endowment

Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham begged for a big donor to step up. He likes where the program is from a fan support standpoint, as well as how local businesses have embraced him and the team.

Some outsiders were critical of his open plea, which he first made in talking about his contract extension.

Well, it has worked. Not only did he get help with funds for the new indoor football practice facility, but now Brian and Kelly Swette have stepped up with a $10 million gift for the Swette Family Endowed Football Coach position.

Their $10 million gift is the largest endowed leadership position at ASU.

The Swettes founded Sweet Earth Natural Foods in 2012. The company offers a line of convenient frozen vegetarian and vegan meals. Kelly Swette previously was director of marketing and director of national sales at PepsiCo and as global vice president of marketing at Calvin Klein. Brian Swette previously was an executive with PepsiCo and chief operating officer at eBay, executive vice president at PepsiCo, chief operating officer at eBay and chairman of Burger King and Shutterfly.

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State quarterback Cameron Dyer (13) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State quarterback Cameron Dyer (13) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State quarterback Mikey Keene (12) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State quarterback Jake Fette (2) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State tight end Kristian Ingman (44) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State tight end James Giggey (87) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State running back David Avit (24) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State running back Kyson Brown (1) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu (30) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State linebackers coach A.J. Cooper talks to linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu (30) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State running back Kyson Brown (1) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State running back Jason Brown Jr. (22) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State running back Kyson Brown (1) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State linebacker Tristan Bacon (45) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State defensive lineman Jalen Thompson (9) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State tight end James Giggey (87) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

Arizona State punter Kanyon Floyd (31) and long snapper Tyler Wigglesworth (39) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Cameron Dyer (13) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Cameron Dyer (13) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Mikey Keene (12) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Jake Fette (2) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley (8) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State tight end Kristian Ingman (44) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State tight end James Giggey (87) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State running back David Avit (24) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State running back Kyson Brown (1) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu (30) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State linebackers coach A.J. Cooper talks to linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu (30) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State running back Kyson Brown (1) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State running back Jason Brown Jr. (22) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State running back Kyson Brown (1) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State linebacker Tristan Bacon (45) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State defensive lineman Jalen Thompson (9) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State tight end James Giggey (87) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

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See photos from Arizona State football's 2026 spring activities

Arizona State punter Kanyon Floyd (31) and long snapper Tyler Wigglesworth (39) during practice on March 24, 2026, at Kajikawa Practice Fields in Tempe.

According to the school's press release, that money will go toward :

• Recruitment and retention of the best and brightest student-athletes to ASU
• Recruitment and retention of best-in-class coaches and staff
• Retention and compensation of Sun Devil Football student-athletes as allowed by the NCAA
• New technologies to enhance athletes’ physical and mental development

It is the second endowed coaching position at the university, following one for men's hockey in late 2025.

No doubt, the football program is enjoying a resurgence under Dillingham.

The team won a Big 12 title in 2024 and was part of the College Football Playoff, a year after going 3-9. It fed off that momentum in 2025, selling out all seven home games.

“Success in sports is important for the university,” said Brian Swette, who graduated from ASU in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. “It enhances the college experience. It brings a sense of community and pride. It enriches our brand. It engages alumni and builds support for the university.”

This is not the first contribution the family has made to the university. Two others have come in academic venues. The first in 2007 was to establish the Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, and another 10 years later went to the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems to provide financial support to students from agricultural farmworking and food-working families.

Swette appreciates the way Dillingham has embraced the new dynamics of the sport and praised his leadership.

“The dynamics of athletics has changed with NIL and the (transfer) portal,” Swette said. “It requires a new type of leadership. Kenny is uniquely suited to success. We are proud to support him.”

“It’s an honor to have the Swette family endow the head coaching position, and I can’t wait to continue building this program into what it can be with continued support,” Dillingham said. "Commitments like this show the direction of the program and the buy-in this program has from the community. The Swette family has been a vital piece of our program from season one on, and this gift marks a next-level commitment.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU gets $10 million endowment for football program