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 169âÂÂ73, 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
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.