Marcus Arroyo was formally introduced Dec. 13 as the new head coach of the UNLV football program during a media conference at the new, $34.8 million Fertitta Football Complex on campus.
“After meeting Marcus, I'm confident he's the right person to lead Rebel Football,” said UNLV President Marta Meana. “He has a broad background in the coaching ranks and has experience in different programs, different systems and different roles. What stood out for me when I first met Marcus -- you really feel his sense of purpose and a path to achieve success. He is passionate about his work and is cerebral in his decision-making. We are excited about the future of Rebel Football.”
“It was a competitive marketplace,” said UNLV Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois. “We set out to find a leader and a teacher, with the competitive drive, the energy, the intellect and the caring to lead our young men to success on the field, in the classroom and in their futures. We evaluated, we vetted and we interviewed many qualified candidates. However, throughout the process, we kept coming back to a quarterback I met in 1998 (at San Jose State), and whose career, I've followed from afar, as he prepared himself for a role just like this. Marcus knows the West and is one of the country's best recruiters. He creates relationships with his student-athletes that last well beyond their playing days. He has the character to lead, the will to build and the passion to galvanize.”
Arroyo then met media who were part of an overflow crowd inside the Gaughan Family Dining Hall.
“Thank you to Athletic Director Francois and President Meana for believing in me and giving me this chance to lead your football team,” said Arroyo. “Here we go. This is amazing. I'm so fired up and have been preparing for this job my whole life. The fact that I get to do it here with UNLV during this unique time in this community, is amazing. My goal here is to build and develop a culture founded in accountability and toughness. I told (the players) that last night and those two things will be at the forefront of everything we do and every decision we make. We have an important job to do with these young men and I plan to completely engage in that mission. As a staff, we’ll be committed to helping them grow academically, athletically and socially.
“When you land here. When I started asking people about this place. When I got to know the leaders that are behind it and started seeing facilities like (the one we’re in) and I started to put my ear to the pavement, it was very easy to see that the community was a huge aspect of why this place is going in the direction it is. It’s eclectic. It’s supportive. It’s a sports town. It’s really inviting. It wants to be great. My family fits here. We’re West Coast people and this fits us perfectly. This is an awesome opportunity.”
“Rebel Nation – we’ll going to win. We’ll recruit at a really high level. The goal is to compete for championships. We’ll block out the naysayers together as fans and city and administration and build a winner – a winner that will last. The enthusiasm and passion in this community is contagious right now. It drew me to this job. I know the blueprint for success at UNLV and I wanted this job from the jump. I made it a point to come get it. I’m ready. I’m thankful. I’m humbled. I’m excited. I can’t wait to get to work. Go Rebels!”
Arroyo, who turns 40 next month, becomes the 12th man charged to lead Rebel football, after most recently serving as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon, which a week ago today won the Pac-12 Conference Championship and earned a spot in the Rose Bowl. During his time in Eugene, the Ducks went 27-12 overall, including winning 14 their last 16 outings, and qualified for three bowl games. One of his players, sophomore offensive lineman Penei Sewell, on Thursday became the first Oregon player to win the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding interior lineman in college football.
Arroyo was also instrumental in the development of quarterback Justin Herbert, a projected NFL first round pick who this week was presented the William V. Campbell Trophy. Recognized as the “Academic Heisman” the award goes to the player who best combined success in academics, football performance and community leadership. Herbert heads into the Rose Bowl with 3,333 yards passing to go with 32 touchdowns and just five interceptions while completing 66.7 percent of his passes as a senior. The Ducks rank 15th in the nation in scoring with an average of 35.9 points per game.
Arroyo’s 2018 offense was one of just nine FBS teams to have a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver. In 2017 as co-offensive coordinator, he helped Oregon lead the Pac-12 with seven performances of 40-plus points while finishing 12th nationally with 251 rush yards per game.
Arroyo joined Oregon after spending two years as the running backs coach at Oklahoma State, and brought experience as a coach for every offensive position except the offensive line. His second year with the Cowboys, OSU went from averaging 3.6 yards per carry and 126.8 yards per game to averaging 4.52 yards per carry and 170.9 yards per game in 2016. Arroyo was also instrumental in grooming running back Justice Hill, who was the nation’s top freshman rusher with 1,142 yards. Hill earned first team All-American honors and was the Associated Press Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Overall, Arroyo helped the Cowboys’ offense become one of just two teams in the nation to have a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher.
Prior to going to Stillwater, Arroyo spent the 2014-15 season in the NFL as interim offensive coordinator and play-caller for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He originally went to Tampa Bay to coach quarterbacks, but after a health procedure sidelined Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, Arroyo took on the offensive coordinator duties. Tampa Bay’s offense saw receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson both eclipse 1,000 yards receiving, the first time in team history a pair of receivers went over 1,000 yards. Evans also set franchise rookie records with 68 receptions, 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Arroyo earned the minority coaching internship with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013, working with quarterbacks under head coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.
Before making the move to the NFL, Arroyo spent the 2013 college football season as the offensive coordinator and outside receivers coach at Southern Mississippi. Operating in Arroyo’s offense, true freshman quarterback Nick Mullens earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
Arroyo’s first stint in the Pac-12 saw him spend 2011 and 2012 as the passing-game coordinator and play-caller at California. He spent the 2009 and 2010 campaigns at Wyoming as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, developing quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels into the Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2009.
Prior to his time in Laramie, Arroyo was the co-offensive coordinator for two seasons and quarterbacks coach for three campaigns at his alma mater, San Jose State. He was the quarterbacks coach and play-caller for the Spartans in 2006, and added co-offensive coordinator duties for 2007 and 2008 under head coach Dick Tomey.
Arroyo began his coaching career with the Spartans in 2003 as an undergraduate assistant coach. He was the offensive coordinator at Prairie View A&M in 2004 before returning to San Jose State as a graduate assistant in 2005.
A native of Colfax, California, Arroyo was a three-year letterman at San Jose State, where he played quarterback from 1998-2002. In 2000, he passed for 2,334 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading the Spartans to seven wins, their most in eight seasons.
Arroyo graduated from San Jose State in 2003 with a degree in kinesiology. He is married to the former Kelly Thoni and the couple has one daughter, Cruz, born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 2006.
ARROYO’S COACHING FILE
2019-PR UNLV – Head Coach
2018-19 Oregon – Assistant Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2017 Oregon – Co-Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks, Tight Ends
2015-16 Oklahoma State – Running Backs
2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) – Interim Offensive Coordinator
2013 Southern Mississippi – Offensive Coordinator, Outside Receivers
2011-12 California – Passing Game Coordinator
2009-10 Wyoming – Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2007-08 San Jose State – Co-Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2006 San Jose State – Quarterbacks, Play Caller
2005 San Jose State – Offensive Graduate Assistant
2004 Prairie View A&M – Offensive Coordinator
2003 San Jose State – Offensive Student Assistant
