Iona University Athletics

Tra Arnold joined the Iona men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in April 2018. He is in his second season with the Maroon & Gold after helping to guide the Gaels to their fourth straight MAAC Championship in 2018-19. He comes to New Rochelle after six years as head men's basketball coach at Odessa College, a member of the NJCAA in Northwest Texas.

During Arnold's six seasons at Odessa, the Wranglers won the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) and NJCAA Region V Championships twice and made three straight appearances in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. Arnold was also named the WJCAC Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2018, and was awarded the Region V Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017. During his time as head coach, 34 student-athletes transitioned to NCAA Division I programs while also garnering three NJCAA Division I First Team All-Americans.

During the 2017-18 season, Arnold led Odessa to a 28-5 mark that included a third straight trip to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. In the 2016-17 season Arnold led the Wranglers to a Region V Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight at the national tournament. Odessa fell to eventual national champion Hutchinson Community College. The 2015-16 season was a successful one for the Wranglers winning another WJCAC and the Region V tournament. Odessa earned the No. 4 seed in the NJCAA Championship in Hutchinson, KS, falling in the quarterfinal round to Salt Lake CC, also an eventual champion. Under Arnold, Odessa had 10 players selected to the WJCAC All-Conference team with two WJCAC Most Valuable Players. Seven student-athletes were All-Region V.

Before Odessa, Arnold served as head coach at Blinn College for three years. Arnold built a region contender while setting the school record for single-season wins and leading the Buccaneers to the program's first-ever regional title game. Arnold recruited and coached numerous All-Region and All-Conference players while mentoring an NJCAA All-American in each his three seasons. 

A native of Houston, Texas, Arnold is a graduate of Clear Creek High School where he played scholastically for coach Buddy Carlisle. He first played for the College of Southern Idaho, which was ranked as the No. 1 junior college program in 2000-01. He later played at NCAA Division II Biola University in La Mirada, California under Dave Holmquist.

Arnold received an associate in arts degree from College of Southern Idaho in 2002, a bachelor's in kinesiology from Biola University in 2005, and a Master's in physical education from Prairie View A&M University in 2009.

Arnold and his wife Jodi have two sons, Tavin and Carson, and a daughter Quinn.  They reside in New Rochelle.
 

THE ARNOLD FILE

Year at Iona Second Season Hometown Houston, Texas Wife Jodi Children Tavin, Carson, and Quinn High School Clear Creek HS - League City, Texas College AA, College of Southern Idaho, 2002 BA, Biola University, 2005 M.Ed., Prairie View A&M, 2009

BASKETBALL COACHING EXPERIENCE

2009-2012 - Head Coach Blinn College, Brenham, TX 2012-2018 - Head Coach Odessa College, Odessa, TX 2018-present - Assistant Coach Iona College

AWARDS/ACCOLADES AT IONA

MAAC Regular Season Championships 2018-19 MAAC Tournament Championships 2019 NCAA Championship Appearances 2019