Max Arnold, a former University of Tennessee Volunteers special teams stalwart who played for both Derek Dooley and Butch Jones on Rocky Top, has landed a new gig in his collegiate coaching journey, FootballScoop has learned.
Arnold, previously a key member of Derek Mason's Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders coaching staff who found unit success despite the team's overall struggles, has accepted the role of sole special teams coordinator at NCAA Division II program West Alabama.
Most recently, Arnold had been a co-special teams coordinator at MTSU in 2025, when despite the Blue Raiders being bludgeoned by Jeff Faris' Football Championship Subdivision Austin Peay Governors to open the season and also absorbing a seven-game losing streak were overall highly effective on special teams.
During Arnold's multi-year tenure at the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, program, MTSU's special teams units led Conference USA in overall special teams ratings while also being among the nation's leaders in punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
Arnold, who appeared in almost 20 career games for the Vols across his five-year career as as special teams contributor, also has previously worked for the Louisiana Lafayette Cajuns, UAB Blazers and Jacksonville State Gamecocks, in addition to initiating his collegiate coaching career on Rocky Top at his alma mater in the final season of the Jones era.
At West Alabama, Arnold is poised to join the staff of Scott Cochran -- the former highly touted strength coach under Nick Saban who also served as an assistant coach -- notably, running special teams -- for Kirby Smart's University of Georgia program.