Devin Arnold resigns as Antioch coach after two seasons to rejoin Lipscomb Academy football

After two seasons of putting Antioch football on the right track, Bears coach Devin Arnold has resigned and will return to Lipscomb Academy to join new coach Jamie Graham as head of football operations.

Arnold, who played running back and safety for Antioch, was the program's sixth coach since 2012. The Tennessee State graduate was an assistant on coach Trent Dilfer's staff at Lipscomb Academy and rejoins Graham, who also coached with Dilfer at Lipscomb and most recently at UAB.

"Coach Graham and I are good friends, we're both from the area," Arnold said, about Graham who was a football star at Whites Creek and Vanderbilt. "So when (Graham) got (the job), it was a no-brainer for me. We talked during that process and Jamie is like a brother to me. I'm excited for him and I know what he can do for Lipscomb Academy's program."

Arnold replaced Ian Marshall when Arnold was hired in March 2022. Marshall spent three seasons at Antioch and went 1-24. But Arnold was able to change the culture and reverse the team's fortunes on the field in short order.

"It was a difficult decision because I'm an alum there, that's my alma mater," Arnold said. "I know we built something special (at Antioch) and I know what's going to happen, not what's already happened. I know what's going to happen in the next few years because they have some special kids there."

Antioch went 4-7 this past season, the most wins for the program since 2013. In Week 3, the Bears beat Cane Ridge for the first time in a decade and advanced to the Class 6A playoffs. It was their first postseason berth since 2016.

The program went 0-10 in 2022 during Arnold's first season.

"It's definitely unfinished business on my part," Arnold said. "But when I make decisions, I have the four F's that I preach to my players and that's faith, family, football and fun. So I had to make a decision for my family."

In 2018, Arnold served as an assistant girls basketball and track and field coach at Cane Ridge and was the offensive coordinator from 2012-14. In 2017, he was assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Antioch Middle School.

Arnold is the latest coaching change in the Nashville area this offseason. Most recently, Ensworth hired ESPN college football analyst Tim Hasselbeck as coach on Dec. 22 after Roc Batten's resignation last month.

Tyler Turner returned to Goodpasture as coach last month after the departure of Greg Cotten. Brentwood Academy hired DCA coach Paul Wade last week, and Lipscomb Academy brought in Graham on Dec. 5.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.