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Darren Arbet
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2026) |
| Nashville Kats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | |||||
| Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | |||||
| 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | |||||
| 230 lb (104 kg) | |||||
| Fullback/Linebacker | |||||
| Edison (Stockton, California) | |||||
| Sacramento State | |||||
| 1986: undrafted | |||||
| Los Angeles Cobras (1988)* | |||||
| Maryland Commandos (1989) | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Sacramento State (1990)Tight ends coach | |||||
| Albany Firebirds (1992–1994)Fullback/linebackers coach | |||||
| Albany Firebirds(1995–1998)Defensive coordinator | |||||
| San Jose SaberCats (1999–2015)Head coach | |||||
| Pittsburgh Steelers (2003)Internship player personnel | |||||
| Atlanta Falcons (2004)Internship special teams/linebackers | |||||
| Humboldt State (2016)Assistant head coach, linebackers coach, and special teams coordinator | |||||
| Cabrillo (2017–2020)Head coach | |||||
| Bay Area Panthers (2023)General manager and head coach | |||||
| Nashville Kats (2025–present)Head coach | |||||
| 4× ArenaBowl champion (2002, 2004, 2007, 2015) | |||||
| 2× AFL Coach of the Year (2000, 2002) | |||||
| Arena Football Hall of Fame (2011) | |||||
| Rush attempts2Yards8Tackles0.5Sacks1Stats at ArenaFan.com | 2 | 8 | 0.5 | 1 | Stats at ArenaFan.com |
| 2 | |||||
| 8 | |||||
| 0.5 | |||||
| 1 | |||||
| Stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||
| 169–73 (.698) | |||||
| 19–9 (.679) | |||||
| 188–82 (.696) |
Darren Arbet (born November 26, 1962) is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Nashville Kats of Arena Football One. He was the head coach of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1999 to 2015 and had a record of 169–73, including four titles: ArenaBowl XVI, ArenaBowl XVIII, ArenaBowl XXI, and ArenaBowl XXVIII.
Arbet attended Edison High School in Stockton, California, where he was a standout in football and track & field.
Arbet played four seasons for the Sacramento State Hornets football team from 1981 to 1985 as a defensive end.
Arbet joined the Los Angeles Cobras in 1988.
Arbet played for the Maryland Commandos in 1989.
Arbet coached tight ends at his alma mater in 1990.
Arbet received a job coaching fullbacks and linebackers for the Albany Firebirds in 1992. When defensive coordinator Doug Kay received the offer to coach the Charlotte Rage in 1995, Arbet was promoted to defensive coordinator by the Firebirds.
On January 13, 1999, the San Jose SaberCats named Arbet their second head coach in franchise history. He won four ArenaBowls with the SaberCats. He also served as general manager, and later bought a stake in the team. His tenure ended when the SaberCats pulled out of the AFL shortly after winning their fourth ArenaBowl.
Arbet became the Assistant Head Coach, linebackers coach, and special teams coordinator for the Humboldt State Lumberjacks in 2016.
Arbet was the head football coach at Cabrillo College from 2017–2020.
General Manager and Head Coach 2023
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8 | .429 | 3rd in AC West | – | – | – | – |
| 12 | 2 | .857 | 1st in AC Western | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Nashville Kats in Semifinals |
| 10 | 4 | .714 | 1st in AC Western | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Nashville Kats in Semifinals |
| 13 | 1 | .929 | 1st in AC Western | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Defeated Arizona Rattlers to win ArenaBowl XVI |
| 12 | 4 | .750 | 1st in AC Western | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Arizona Rattlers in Semifinals |
| 11 | 5 | .688 | 2nd in AC Western | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Defeated Arizona Rattlers to win ArenaBowl XVIII |
| 9 | 7 | .563 | 2nd in AC Western | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Colorado Crush in First Round |
| 10 | 6 | .625 | 1st in AC Western | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Chicago Rush in Semifinals |
| 13 | 3 | .813 | 1st in AC Western | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Defeated Columbus Destroyers to win ArenaBowl XXI |
| 11 | 5 | .688 | 1st in AC Western | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to Philadelphia Soul in ArenaBowl XXII |
| 7 | 11 | .389 | 4th in NC West | – | – | – | – |
| 12 | 6 | .667 | 2nd in NC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Arizona Rattlers in First Round |
| 13 | 5 | .722 | 3rd in NC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Arizona Rattlers in First Round |
| 13 | 5 | .722 | 1st in NC Pacific | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Arizona Rattlers in Semifinals |
| 17 | 1 | .944 | 1st in NC Pacific | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Defeated Jacksonville Sharks to win ArenaBowl XXVIII |
In 2002, Arbet became the first African-American head coach to win a pro-football championship when he coached the SaberCats to a victory at ArenaBowl XVI. His nephew is former AFL player Kevin Arbet.
- Darren Arbet (coach) at ArenaFan Online
- Darren Arbet (player) at ArenaFan Online
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