By Gabriel Esparza | August 16, 2026
Many strive to assemble a winning team. Going about how to build a winning culture can have many different paths.
There are, however, some basic principles that need to be consistent for there to truly be any resemblance of a successful blueprint.Major cornerstones have to include selflessness, fortitude, and adaptability.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, as shared on X by Thad Wells, spoke on the criteria that he is looking to establish for the Sun Devils.
The specific words of coach Dillingham are particularly interesting. According to him, he does not wish for his ASU squad to be necessarily described as “talented.” Instead, for him, the focus is on how disciplined and tough those on the team are.
After all, talent is really only a word for potential. That can only carry one so far. Talented people can often skate by with minimum effort. Once, however, adversity hits, the other, more important qualities often show to be lacking.Pushing through obstacles, finding a way toward a goal despite the odds being stacked against every ounce of intention, tends to be bridges too far for those who rely solely on their current baseline status and who are not looking for ways to constantly get better.
Pushing through obstacles, finding a way toward a goal despite the odds being stacked against every ounce of intention, tends to be bridges too far for those who rely solely on their current baseline status and who are not looking for ways to constantly get better.
This is why it makes all of the sense in the world that coach Dillingham is choosing to have his program centered around the aforementioned qualities. Relying only on potential has an inherently low ceiling and does not match what life will invariably throw at everyone. The other approach ensures that there is always a chance to find success and is ultimately far more rewarding, even if one falls short of the intended objective.
