Tom Arth was introduced as the 23rd head coach of Mocs football on Dec. 20, 2016. Arth was the 2016 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
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 heads into his second season in 2018 with a solid core of experienced returners looking to make another run at the FCS postseason.
A former NFL quarterback, Arth (36) owned a 40-8 overall record in four seasons at his alma mater. 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.
“This is an incredibly special moment for my family and I,” stated Arth when he was hired in December of 2016. “Lauren and I are so grateful for the humbling opportunity to carry on the standard of excellence and success that has been established within the Mocs football program.
“UTC, first and foremost, is an outstanding school that places a high value on excellence as well as the experience of their students. It is a university that we will confidently recruit to, knowing that our student-athletes will receive an incredible education, while competing at the highest level within our football program.
“I am confident that our team will make the Chattanooga community proud and that our players will be well equipped to achieve success following graduation.”
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 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.
Arth earned his degree from John Carroll in Physical Education in 2003. He and his wife, Lauren, have five children, Caroline, Tommy, Kate, Patrick and Elizabeth.
Tom Arth's Career Record
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conference |
Finish |
NCAA Postseason |
| 2013 |
John Carroll |
9-2 |
8-1 |
2nd |
NCAA DIII Playoffs |
| 2014 |
John Carroll |
11-2 |
8-1 |
2nd |
NCAA DIII Quarterfinals |
| 2015 |
John Carroll |
8-2 |
7-2 |
2nd |
|
| 2016 |
John Carroll |
12-2 |
7-0 |
1st |
NCAA DIII Semifinals |
| 2017 |
Chattanooga |
3-8 |
3-5 |
T6th |
|
| Totals |
5 Years |
43-16 |
35-9 |
|
3 Postseason Appearances |
