After a frustrating loss to Cincinnati, Arizona State University (ASU) head football coach Kenny Dillingham is taking an unconventional approach to solving his team’s kicking woes: open tryouts. Following the Sun Devils’ 24-14 defeat on Saturday, where two missed field goals from kicker Ian Hershey cost ASU crucial points, Dillingham announced that the team would be holding open tryouts for kickers on Monday.
During the postgame press conference, Dillingham didn’t hold back his criticism of the team’s special teams performance, labeling the kicking game as “atrocious.” He invited students at ASU to try out, saying, “If you can kick and you’re at Arizona State, email me. We’re going to have kicking tryouts on Monday, so bring it on.” When asked if he was serious, the second-year coach doubled down. “I’m dead serious,” he said. “We got to find somebody who can make a field goal.”
The decision comes after a game marked by missed opportunities. ASU kicker Ian Hershey missed two field goals, from 48 and 41 yards, on the team’s final drives. Had he made those kicks, the Sun Devils could have closed the gap and put pressure on Cincinnati in the closing moments. Instead, ASU fell to 5-2 on the season, with a 2-2 record in Big 12 play.
Hershey, who transferred to ASU from Idaho State, has been inconsistent this season, converting 7 of 12 field goal attempts while making 20 of 21 extra-point tries. The Sun Devils have not made a field goal in three consecutive games, a streak that has raised concerns for Dillingham and his coaching staff. Hershey is not alone in his struggles; redshirt freshman kicker Carston Kieffer also missed his only field goal attempt earlier in the season during the opener against Wyoming.
Dillingham’s open tryout is an unusual step for a college football program but underscores his determination to address what has been a persistent issue for the team. “We got to do a better job getting [Hershey] in a better mental state to kick. But at the same token, I got to do a job and get guys on the field that can perform in those situations,” Dillingham said. “We’ll go to work, we’ll get better, and we’ll have a tryout to see if somebody’s good enough.”
A few hours after his postgame comments, Dillingham took to social media to apologize, acknowledging that his criticism might have unfairly singled out one player. “I would like to apologize. In my postgame press conference, I talked about our kicking game like I do offense/defense,” he wrote. “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 me.”
Dillingham emphasized that even if the tryouts do not produce a new addition to the team, they will continue working with the current roster. “If somebody is good enough, then, you know, welcome to the team, and we’ll rock and roll from there,” he said. “If not, status quo. Keep going to work.”
While it is rare for college programs to hold open tryouts mid-season, it is not without precedent. In 2022, Ole Miss famously added a punter after coach Lane Kiffin humorously said he found him “down at the frat house at a keg party.” In another notable instance, the late Mike Leach recruited student Matt Williams to Texas Tech’s football team after Williams nailed a 30-yard field goal during a halftime contest. Williams went on to kick for the team through the 2010 season, showing that sometimes unconventional methods can lead to success.
With ASU heading into a bye week, Dillingham and his staff have time to assess their options before their next game against Oklahoma State on November 2. The decision to open tryouts has sparked interest among the student body, with some seeing it as an opportunity to make an unexpected contribution to the team. Whether the tryouts yield a new kicker or reinforce confidence in Hershey, it is clear that Dillingham is willing to take drastic measures to address the team’s shortcomings.
While some fans may view the open tryouts as a desperate move, others see it as a creative solution to a persistent problem. Dillingham’s transparency about the team’s struggles has resonated with the fanbase, and his apology on social media has shown a willingness to take responsibility. As the team looks to bounce back, the Sun Devils hope that addressing their kicking game will help them stay competitive in the Big 12 and keep their postseason aspirations alive.
The open tryouts will be held on Monday in Tempe, and Dillingham has assured that anyone who can reliably make field goals will have a fair chance to join the team. For now, the Sun Devils are on the hunt for a solution to their kicking woes, one way or another.
