College Football

Up-and-coming Arth takes over at Chattanooga

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:24 a.m. ET

(STATS) - In the four seasons prior to Tom Arth becoming John Carroll's football coach, the program was 19-21. In the last four years under his tutelage, the Blue Streaks were 40-8.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga named the 35-year-old Arth as its new coach Monday, believing the up-and-coming coach is ready to keep the Mocs' already successful FCS program at a high level.

Arth replaces Russ Huesman, who departed after eight seasons to take over the Richmond program last week.

"When we started this search, we were looking for proven winners who could continue the rise of Chattanooga football," athletic director David Blackburn said. "Tom Arth quickly separated himself from an impressive pool of candidates. He is an outstanding man of character, knows football and will be a tremendous influence on our student-athletes."

Arth was this year's Division III national coach of the year, leading his alma mater John Carroll to a 12-2 record, its first outright Ohio Athletic Conference title since 1989 and road victories over two No. 1-ranked opponents, Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

In Chattanooga, he takes over a Southern Conference program that was 9-4 and made the FCS playoffs for the third straight season.

"UTC, first and foremost, is an outstanding school that places a high value on excellence as well as the experience of their students," Arth said. "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 John Carroll in 2003, Arth spent three seasons as a backup quarterback to Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts. He also spent part of those years playing in NFL Europe and was on the Green Bay Packers' 2006 preseason roster.