If Arizona State paid him enough, Shaun Aguano says he’d be the Sun Devils’ waterboy. It won’t have to come to that.

After ASU’s Territorial Cup loss to Arizona on Friday, Aguano was confronted with the knowledge he’d coached his last game as the program’s leader. He opened himself up to some raw emotion and said the opportunity to serve as ASU’s interim coach was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Earlier this season, Aguano received a letter of recommendation from the state’s high school coaches to earn the full-time head coaching gig at Arizona State. But a 3-9 record — the first nine-loss season in program history — made that path untenable for athletic director Ray Anderson.

Still, as the season came to a close, there was mounting support for Aguano to remain on staff in some capacity.

On Sunday, Anderson and president Michael Crow introduced former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham as the program’s next head coach.

At the introductory press conference, Dillingham said Aguano will remain on his staff.

“He’s a guy who’s extremely rooted in the Valley, very well respected,” Dillingham said. “Shaun’s done a remarkable job here. As a person, everybody in this Valley respects him.

“I couldn’t be happier. One of the first people I saw when I got here was Coach Aguano, and he brings a joy to you when you see him in the room.”

According to multiple local reporters on hand for the introductory press conference, Aguano was in attendance to see ASU usher in the Dillingham era.

He should be a valuable asset for Dillingham as he navigates the transition from coordinator to head coach. Dillingham has roots in Arizona, same as Aguano, but he’s set to become the youngest head coach in the FBS. The complexion of his first coaching staff will be worth monitoring. Aguano should be able to provide an experienced outlook.

After a decade at the high school level in Arizona, Aguano joined the ASU coaching staff as a running backs coach. He took over for Herm Edwards after a Week 3 loss to Eastern Michigan.

“Here is what I know about Shaun Aguano: I’m never an ego guy,” he said after Friday’s game. “I want Sun Devil Nation to win and be successful. So, if that includes me, I’ll do whatever I can to make sure that we win football games. I’m not an ego guy. I can be the water boy on the side if they pay me enough for it. Whatever I can do in order to make Sun Devil Nation be prominent like they should be and they deserve to be, I’ll do whatever it is.”