Tom Arth Introduced as Akron Football Coach

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AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron Department of Athletics introduced former NFL quarterback and Ohio native Tom Arth as the Zips' head football coach on Monday afternoon.

"I'm impressed with Coach Arth's emphasis on the success of students in academics as well as athletics, and his commitment to excellence in all areas," Interim University of Akron President John C. Green said. "His record fits UA's priorities well: success in the classroom, in the community, and in competition on the field."

Arth is the Zips' 28th all-time head coach and just the eighth person to hold the position since 1960. He is also just the sixth head coach for the Zips since moving up to Division I in 1987.

"We are excited to welcome Tom Arth to the University of Akron," Director of Athletics Larry Williams said. "Tom's experience in leading two programs and his ties to Northeast Ohio made him the exceptional candidate to elevate our program. Not only does Tom have a tremendous football IQ, but he cares deeply about the student-athletes and their future endeavors."

"Having the opportunity to return to Northeast Ohio and to coach at the University is Akron is so special and my wife Lauren and I are so grateful to Dr. Green, Larry Williams, and the entire staff at the University of Akron for believing in me," Arth said. "I am both excited and motivated by the challenges ahead to lead our program and student-athletes to great success on the field and off."

Arth takes the reins at Akron after two seasons at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. During his tenure, Arth hit the ground running, putting together a top-notch staff that went out and secured one of the best recruiting classes in the Football Championship Subdivision in less than two months.  He mixed a talented roster of returners with some outstanding newcomers in 2017.

He followed up his first season with the Mocs with the top recruiting class in the Southern Conference. He entered the 2018 season with a solid core of experienced returners.

In four seasons at John Carroll University, his alma mater, Arth owned a 40-8 overall record while guiding the Blue Streaks to three postseason appearances. His building of the John Carroll program was highlighted by road victories over two No. 1 ranked opponents in Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year guided the Blue Streaks to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the third time in his four-year tenure. In the four seasons under Arth's leadership, John Carroll was among the nation's elite, finishing inside the top 25 every season including top 5 finishes in 2016 (No. 3) and 2014 (No. 5).

John Carroll won the league's automatic bid for the first time in school history in 2016, breaking Mount Union's run of 24 consecutive OAC titles. The Blue Streaks finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation, tying a school record with a 12-2 overall tally and a 9-0 mark in league action. It was their first outright conference championship since 1989.

After graduating from JCU in 2003, Arth spent three seasons as a backup quarterback to Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts. He spent part of those years playing in NFL Europe and was on the preseason roster with the Green Bay Packers in 2006.

Arth returned to John Carroll in 2010, where he assisted for three seasons before taking the reins as head coach in 2013. His roles included director of football operations, co-offensive coordinator, assistant recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

In the four seasons prior to Arth becoming head coach, JCU was 19-21. His squads averaged 10 wins per season since. Arth earned NCAA Division III Regional Coach of the Year honors after a 9-2 record in his first season in 2013. Those nine wins were the most by a first-year JCU head coach, and the Blue Streaks climbed into the top 25 in the national polls.

The 2014 team made it back to the DIII playoffs, giving John Carroll back-to-back appearances for the first time in school history. His charges matched a school record soaring to a No. 5 national ranking, while advancing to the quarterfinals with an 11-2 record. The 2015 squad won eight of 10 games, marking the first time since 1996-98 JCU had three-straight eight-win seasons.

A native of Cleveland, Arth earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from John Carroll in 2003 where he played quarterback. A unanimous All-American as a junior and senior, he set 18 school records. As a senior in 2002, he guided JCU to a 12-2 record, and East region championship, and a berth in to the NCAA Division III national semifinals for the first time in program history. He is a graduate of Cleveland's St. Ignatius High School.

Arth, 37, and his wife Lauren have five children– Caroline, Tommy, Kate, Patrick, and Elizabeth.

Akron, which returns 51 letterwinners, opens the 2019 season at Illinois on Saturday, August 31.

THE ARTH FILE
Born: May 11, 1981 (age 37)
Hometown:   Cleveland, Ohio
Family: wife Lauren, daughters– Caroline, Kate, Elizabeth; sons– Tommy, Patrick
Education:
            John Carroll University [1999-03]
            Bachelor's in physical education

PLAYING CAREER [quarterback]
St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland)
John Carroll University [1999-02]
Indianapolis Colts [2003-05]
Scottish Claymores [2004]
Hamburg Sea Devils [2005]
Green Bay Packers [2006]
Toronto Argonauts [2007]
Grand Rapids Rampage [2007]
Georgia Force [2008]

HONORS
2016 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year
2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
2011 D3Football.com's All-Decade Team
2002 Unanimous All-American
2001 Unanimous All-American

COACHING CAREER
Assistant coach, John Carroll University [2010-12]
Head coach, John Carroll University [2013-16]
Head coach, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga [2017-18]
Head coach, University of Akron [2019 to present]

COLLEGIATE CAREER RECORD
Season          School                       Overall      Conference            Notable
2013               John Carroll                    9-2      8-1 | 2^nd OAC         NCAA Division III First Round
2014               John Carroll                  11-2      8-1 | 2^nd OAC         NCAA Division III Quarterfinal
2015               John Carroll                    8-2      7-2 | T2^nd OAC
2016               John Carroll                  12-2      9-0 | 1^st OAC          NCAA Division III Semifinal

John Carroll Totals (4 yrs.) 40-8 32-4

2017 UT Chattanooga 3-8 3-5 | T6th SoCon
2018 UT Chattanooga 6-5 4-4 | T5th SoCon

UT Chattanooga Totals (2 yrs.) 9-13 7-9

Career Totals (6 yrs.) 49-21 39-13 5-3 in Division III playoffs

What They're Saying About Tom Arth . . .

"I was fortunate to have Tom Arth as a teammate for a few seasons with the Colts as well as an instructor at our passing camp. With his football knowledge and work ethic, it was easy to see that Tom had the makings of a successful head coach. I congratulate Tom and wish him the best at the University of Akron."
Peyton Manning
Retired Quarterback
Indianapolis Colts | Denver Broncos

"I had a chance to see Tom Arth on a daily basis when he was a quarterback with the Colts and have followed his coaching career thereafter. Tom has the unique ability to combine his knowledge of football with his understanding of how to build a winning culture. He possesses all the traits you look for in a leader. This is an exciting time for Akron football."
Tom Telesco
General Manager
Los Angeles Chargers

"Congratulations to the University of Akron, the Akron Athletics Department, and Tom Arth on the recent hiring to lead their football program. Tom is an outstanding person and leader with a track record of success both as a player and a coach. Tom has had a positive impact in all of his stops in developing a winning culture on all levels. The Zips are in good hands with Tom Arth as their head football coach."
Nick Caserio
Director of Player Personnel
New England Patriots

"I've watched Tom Arth grow from the good little quarterback out of St. Raphael's at the youth camps in Cleveland that I would help at, to the successful quarterback at St. Ignatius, John Carroll and Colts, to the fantastic coach he is today. He was a smart kid who learned from the great coaches here in Cleveland. With that background and the facilities he has to work with at the University of Akron, I know he will elevate that football program to championship levels of success. We expect, and we will win, on and off the field."

Bernie Kosar
Retired Quarterback
Cleveland Browns

The University of Akron Athletics

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