John Carroll's Tom Arth Named American Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year
By John Carroll Sports Information
On December 5, 2012, Tom Arth was named the 17th head
coach in John Carroll football's 92-year history.
Just over one year later, Arth has already earned his first
national coaching honor.
After leading the John Carroll University football team to its best
season in over a decade, Arth has been voted to the American
Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year list. Arth
was voted as the Regional Coach of the Year for Division III,
Region 4.
In his rookie season at the helm for the Blue Streaks, Arth, who is
just 32 years old, led the Blue Streaks to a 9-0 start in 2013. The
Blue and Gold finished the season with an overall record of 9-2, an
8-1 mark in Ohio Athletic Conference play, and their first
postseason appearance since 2002, when Arth was the senior
quarterback.
Coaches from the four NCAA divisions and the NAIA are awarded this
honor. Arth is one of just 26 coaches nationally selected to the
list. Other notable names on the list include: Jimbo Fisher
(Florida State University), Gary Pinkel (University of Missouri)
and David Shaw (Stanford University), among others.
Under Arth's tutelage, the Blue Streaks finished second in the
nation in scoring defense, allowing just 9.1 points per game in
2013. The Blue Streaks offense finished as the 14th best scoring
offense in all of Division III, averaging 41.9 points per game.
The AFCA first began recognizing district coaches of the year
following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same
year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year
Award.
The winners are selected by active members of the Association who
vote for coaches in their respective districts and divisions. Each
coach receives a medallion in recognition of the honor. The
medallions are presented at the Coach of the Year Dinner during the
AFCA Convention.