Tommy Arnett is in his seventh year directing the fortunes of the Tusculum College tennis program. He has guided both the men and women’s teams to the most successful period in the programs’ histories. Under his tutelage, the Pioneers have advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in five of the last six seasons, while producing five South Atlantic Conference Championships and two SAC Tournament titles, combined.

Since his arrival at Tusculum in 2001, Arnett’s teams have posted a combined 184-67 overall record (.733 winning percentage) including an amazing 61-12 league slate (.836 winning percentage).

In 2004, the Tusculum women’s team enjoyed a remarkable run winning its first 20 matches en route to a 20-1 mark while capturing its third straight conference crown and first SAC Tournament title. For his efforts, he wasnamed the South Atlantic Conference Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year. That squad included four All-Conference players, including SAC Player of the Year Lesley Murray, who earned that honor for a remarkable fourth time in her illustrious career. Only two players in league history have been named player of the year for their respective sports. She was tabbed the 2003-04 SAC Female Athlete of the Year, becoming the first woman in TC history to earn this honor. Murray was also selected as the SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year for Women’s Tennis for a second time in 2004.

In his first season, Arnett guided both the men and women’s teams to a pair of South Atlantic Conference Championships, two national rankings and berths to the NCAA Tournament.

The Tusculum men established a school mark with an 18-2 record including a perfect 6-0 league slate to claim the Pioneers’ first SAC title. In 2002, the Pioneers also tallied a new school record winning 14 consecutive matches including the SAC Tournament title. TC ended the year ranked
40th in the nation and for his efforts, Arnett was named SAC Men's Tennis Coach of the Year.

In 2005, Arnett led the men’s team to a 13-7 record, while going undefeated in conference play for the second time in three years winning the program’s second SAC Men’s Title. Once again, Arnett was honored by his peers and named Conference Coach of the Year.

The TC women went 15-4 in 2002 and won a share of its first SAC title. Tusculum knocked off nationally-ranked Presbyterian College, ending the Blue Hose 56-match winning streak in league play. For a second straight year, the Tusculum women advanced to the NCAA Tournament and ended the year ranked 38th in the country.

In 2003, the women’s team repeated their performance from a season before winning a share of its second SAC title. The Pioneer women finished 15-4 and advanced to the NCAA postseason, while moving to the second round for the first time. TC finished the year ranked fourth in the region and 37th in the nation. The men’s team recorded its third straight winning season going 11-8 and finished second in the SAC standings.

Arnett took over the Pioneer program in June 2001, after serving as head coach for two seasons at South Atlantic Conference member Newberry College.

He has mentored 18 All-South Atlantic Conference performers at Tusculum, including three Women’s Tennis SAC Freshmen of the Year, including Gabriela Mora (2002), Maria Nevarez (2003) and Danae Valderrama (2004). In 2002, Roberto Robles captured SAC Freshman of the Year honors on the men’s side. In 2005, Sergio Espinosa was named SAC Freshman of the Year.

In 2002, he also coached Pam Holt, who became the program’s first CoSIDA Academic All-American®. Three of his players have garnered Academic All-District recognition including Holt, Lesley Murray and Jobria McCracken. Murray (twice) and McCracken (in 2005) have also been honored as SAC Scholar Athletes of the Year.

Under Arnett's watch, the Pioneers have also demonstrated success in the classroom. His netters posted the top two team grade point averages in the Tusculum athletic department, while both the men and women's teams earned the ITA Academic Team Award, making TC one of only eight tennis programs in the nation (NCAA II) to have both its squads honored. The women earned ITA Academic Team status for a fourth straight season, while the men were one of only a dozen NCAA II teams to be recognized.

It has been homecoming for Arnett, a native of nearby Elizabethton, Tenn. He guided the Newberry women’s team to the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 15-11 record.

Prior to his arrival at Newberry, Arnett was the head coach at Bluefield College, where he led the men’s program to a 63-47 slate over seven seasons. He was also given the task of beginning the women’s program at Bluefield and posted a 13-29 slate during his four seasons over the women’s team. While in Bluefield, he also ran the Sedgewood Tennis Center for 21 years. He is a 20-year member of the United States Professional.

He is also a Class 1 Professional and mentored pro tennis star Mark Dickson, who reached a world rank of 26th and was 13th on the money list before an injury ended his career prematurely.

He also serves as the Director of Tennis at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville.

Arnett is a 1972 graduate of Carson-Newman College, where he was a member of the Eagles tennis team. During his collegiate career, he played on two nationally ranked teams at the Jefferson City, Tenn.