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Tom Arth shows confidence taking UTC head coach role [video, photos]

Tom Arth listens to a question by the media on Tuesday inside the Stadium Club at Finley Stadium. Tom Arth listens to a question by the media on Tuesday inside the Stadium Club at Finley Stadium.

By Gene Henley December 21, 2016 5 min read

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Arth shows confidence in introduction by UTC

David Blackburn, UTC Athletic Director, talks about new Chattanooga Mocs Head Coach Tom Arth, near left, before a crowd of fans, media and a few attending players on Tuesday at noon inside the Stadium Club at Finley Stadium.

Tom Arth speaks to fans, the media and attending players as the new Chattanooga Mocs head football coach Tuesday inside the Stadium Club at Finley Stadium.

UTC Head Football Coach Tom Arth, seated, reacts to one of his children as Jay Blackman, senior associate athletic director, begins to introduce the new leader of the Chattanooga Mocs football team Tuesday inside the Stadium Club at Finley Stadium.

Tom Arth enters the Stadium Club Tuesday to speak to fans, the media and attending players for the first meeting as the new Chattanooga Mocs head football coach midday at Finley Stadium.

Tom Arth, center, listens as University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor Steve Angle introduces the new coach to Chattanooga for the first time at the Stadium Club on Tuesday. Athletic Director David Blackburn listens, left.

UTC’s coaching carousel

Tom Arth was fully aware of his 32 rating on the video game ESPN NFL 2K5 – the lowest rating of any player on the popular game.

“I’m not surprised,” he said Tuesday. “That’s probably pretty accurate. Our players at John Carroll used to mess with me about it as well, so it’s always a fun conversation.

“I wish I was a little bit better. I might still be playing.”

Arth, who was introduced Tuesday as the head football coach of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, spent three seasons in the NFL backing up Peyton Manning in Indianapolis (2003-05). He then spent the 2006 preseason on the Green Bay Packers’ roster.

After bouncing around and playing in professional leagues for a couple of seasons, he decided it was time to get to work and chose to go back to his alma mater, John Carroll University, where he served in a variety of roles before moving up to head coach in 2012.