TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) — "When I was blessed with the opportunity to start coaching at the age of 17, and I was coaching the JV team, kids that were 15 and 16, and I'm 17, I learned a lot. I learned what the boundaries were to be similar in age to players."
17 was the age Kenny Dillingham started coaching football. Yet, for the new offensive coordinator for Florida State, that's just a number. "I think at the end of the day the relationship you build, whether, regardless of your age, is determined by how you act," explained Dillingham. "Age is purely a number."
After a stint at the high school level, Dillingham moved up to the college level. Eventually, he landed at Memphis with Mike Norvell. Their relationship and how they operate as coaches is what's called "unique" according to Dillingham.
"He could be in another room, I could be in my office, and we come together and share ideas and a game plan, and nine times out of ten we're bringing the same ideas to the table," said Dillingham. "We both know how we both want to attack. And I think that's why it's a unique dynamic between us, and that's why I'm super excited to be back with him and to be here."
Before Dillingham arrived to Tallahassee, he was the OC for the Auburn Tigers. He said it was an opportunity that he and Coach Norvell talked about together. "He's not just a guy I work with. He's a guy I lean on, he's a mentor," said Dillingham. "It was an opportunity that we decided was best for me and my career at that time. It was an extremely difficult one to make because of my relationship with him."
Dillingham added that the experience he received while at Auburn will definitely be valuable at FSU.
