Arbet set to guide Kats into 2026 season seeking AF1 crown

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville Kats head coach Darren Arbet enters the 2026 Arena Football One season looking for one for the thumb. 

Already possessing four Arena Football championship rings as a head coach, Arbet has assembled a talented and experienced staff to lead the Kats as they open the season on Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m. versus the Michigan Arsenal at F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville

The game will be streamed live on HomeTeam Network at HomeTeamLive.com. It can also be viewed on the league’s official website at TheAF1.com.

Arbet won four ArenaBowl championships (2002, 2004, 2007 and 2015) and was twice named league coach of the year (2000, 2002) during his head coaching stint with the San Jose SaberCats from 1999-2015.

Last season, Arbet guided the Kats to a 7-5 record and a berth in the playoffs that culminated with a 60-57 loss to Albany in the AF1 Arena Crown championship game.

Members of Arbet’s staff this season include Kerry Locklin, assistant head coach and offensive/defensive line coach; Steve Papin, offensive coordinator; and Sergio Gilliam, defensive coordinator. Clint Gumm has been named President of Football Operations.

“They all know arena football inside and out,” Arbet said of his staff. “They are really good arena coaches. I want a coach who loves the game. If you don’t love the game, I’m hard to work with. We all have to be 24-7 football.”

Kats President & Partner Jeff Fisher named Arbet as head coach and general manager before last season. 

“At first, it was the experience and success that Darren had in the indoor

game,” Fisher said of initially hiring Arbet, who was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and is second on the all-time wins list for indoor football.

“But beyond that, it is the disposition, it’s the gentleman that he is,” Fisher added. “We got to witness that and more firsthand all last season and now again this season. It’s the understanding of everything that is required from A to Z to putting a winning team on the field and how to build and sustain a winning franchise.”

With an overall record of 195-87 including regular season and postseason games, Arbet trails only Tim Marcum as the all-time winningest coach and is just 16 wins shy of becoming the all-time wins leader in indoor professional football. In 2002, Arbet became the first African-American head coach to win a pro football championship when he coached San Jose to a victory at ArenaBowl XVI.

Here is a closer look at each assistant coach with a comment from Arbet … 

Kerry Locklin – The former New Mexico State standout was a sixth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1982. Playing stints included the Rams, Arizona Wranglers and Denver Broncos. Before joining the Kats last season, he was head coach of the Billings Outlaws in 2023. Since 1988, Locklin has held multiple collegiate and professional coaching positions. 

What Arbet says: “He is a grinder and he watches more film than anyone I know. He is a great teacher, one of the best in the game. He’s coached at every level collegiately and professionally and has had great success along the way.”

Steve Papin – The former Portland State standout played seven seasons in the Arena Football League, including five seasons for Arbet in San Jose and is one of the premier return specialists in indoor football history. Since 2005, he had held a variety of professional coaching positions and is currently the head football coach at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose.

What Arbet says: “He was a hard nose player and one of the best and most athletic and smoothest returners in the game. He was a smart player and is a smart coach. I love his demeanor out on the football field. Calm and cool, he really understands the passing game. And he’s had great success on the high school level in California.”

Sergio Gilliam – As a professional indoor player from 2010-16, the former Clemson standout defensive back had 35 career interceptions to rank among the top 30 all time to go with 395 career tackles. Since 2016, he has held a variety of professional assistant coaching positions. 

What Arbet says: “Sergio was a decorated player and as a coach has won championships at several locations. I call him “Rain Man” – he talks anything football and it seems like he’s not even thinking about it. He understands the game.”

The Kats play 12 regular-season games, including seven home games plus playoffs. Three Kats’ home games will be featured as the Vice National Game of the Week, including Saturday, April 25 versus Washington; Saturday, May 16 versus Oceanside; and Saturday, June 20 versus Albany. All three games have a 4 p.m. CDT kickoff. 

AF1 returns for its second season with the following franchises – Nashville Kats, Michigan Arsenal, Albany Firebirds, Kentucky Barrels, Beaumont Renegades, Washington Wolfpack, Oceanside Bombers, Oregon Lightning and Minnesota Monsters. Fisher also serves as Commissioner of AF1.

For more information, visit NashvilleKats.com and follow the Kats on all their social media platforms.