Max Arnold - Football Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Max Arnold

Title:
Co-Special Teams Coordinator
Phone:
615-898-2926

Updated June 2025

Max Arnold is in his second season as a member of Derek Mason’s coaching staff and his first as co-special teams coordinator. Arnold spent the 2024 campaign as a special teams quality control under former coordinator Luke Paschall.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
At Middle Tennessee, co-special teams coordinator, 2025-present
• Date Hired: May 16, 2025

At Middle Tennessee, special teams quality control, 2024
• Helped lead MTSU to a No. 22 national ranking by ESPN on special teams efficiency while also helping them garner the No. 8 most improved special teams unit in the country
• Coached true freshman honorable mention all-conference punter Grant Chadwick who averaged 43.4 yards a punt and had 13 punts of over 50 yards
• Coached first team all-conference snapper Brody Butler and second team all-conference punt returner Omari Kelly

At Louisiana, special teams graduate assistant, 2021-23
• Helped lead Louisiana to a No. 1 ranking in the Sun Belt Conference in kickoff return defense (16.6 ypr), first in net punting (39.6) and first in punt return defense (-4) in 2023
• Coached placekicker Kenny Almendares for 3 seasons who finished 2023 second in the SBC and 13th nationally in field goal percentage (87.5%). Helping guide Almendares to eventually win the Lou Groza award
• Coached kick returner Zylan Perry who led the nation in kick return yards (862) in 2023
• In 2022, Louisiana ranked No. 9 nationally in cumulative special teams rankings
• In 2022, UL led the nation in punt return yards and was eighth in kickoff coverage
• Coached second team all-American punt returner Eric Garror and first team all-conference punter Rhys Byrns
• In 2021, Louisiana finished with a No. 16 final AP ranking, had the nation’s longest winning streak (13) and was the Sun Belt Conference and New Orleans Bowl Champions
• Coached 4^th round NFL Draft pick Percy Butler and first team all-conference punter Rhys Byrns
• Coached eventual PFF Special Teams All-American Dalen Cambre for 3 seasons. During which Cambre blocked 2 punts and returned a punt for a TD

At UAB, special teams analyst, 2020
• Helped UAB to a CUSA Championship
• Helped UAB to rank second in CUSA in net punting (40.5) and 30^th nationally while ranking 25^th nationally in punt return average (10.7)
• Coached long snapper Jacob Fuqua who was a Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist, fourth team all-American, and first team all-conference
• Also coached honorable mention all-conference selection placekicker Matt Quinn

At UAB, linebackers quality control, 2019
• Helped lead UAB to a No. 8 national ranking in total defense
• Coached fourth round NFL Draft pick Jordan Smith, firs team all-conference linebacker Kris Moll and CUSA all-freshman member Alex Wright
• Helped lead UAB to a Western Division Championship in CUSA

At Jacksonville State, nickel coach and linebacker graduate assistant, 2018
• JSU ranked No. 15 nationally in total defense and was second nationally in third down defense
• Coached second team all-conference linebacker Zac Woodard
• Helped lead JSU to its fifth consecutive OVC conference championship

At Tennessee, defensive backs quality control, 2017
• Coached third round NFL Draft pick Rashaan Gaulden and NFL veterans Emmanuel Mosely and Nigel Warrior

At Grace Christian Academy, quarterback/wide receiver/defensive back/special teams, 2016
• Helped team advance to the second round of the state playoffs

COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2016: Grace Christian Academy (qb/wr/db/special teams coordinator)
• 2017: Tennessee (defensive backs quality control)
• 2018: Jacksonville State (nickel coach/linebackers GA)
• 2019: UAB (linebackers quality control)
• 2020: UAB (special teams analyst)
• 2021-23: Louisiana (special teams GA)
• 2024: Middle Tennessee (special teams quality control)
• 2025-Present: Middle Tennessee (co-special teams coordinator)

Personal
• Birthdate: Jan. 14, 1993
• Hometown: McKenzie, TN

Education
• High School: McKenzie High School
• College: Tennessee, B.S. in Sports Management, 2016

Playing Experience (DB)
• Tennessee (2011-15)

Bowl Experience
• 2014: Tax Slayer Bowl (player)
• 2015: Outback Bowl (player)
• 2019: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2021: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2022: Independence Bowl (coach)
• 2023: New Orleans Bowl (coach)