Dr. DF Arnold Season 2023
Dr. D.F. Arnold, an accomplished author and motivational speaker, joined the LSU football staff in January of 2022 and serves as assistant athletic director of football player development and engagement.
Dr. Arnold plays a key role in the day-to-day well-being of LSU’s football student-athletes and works daily with the players on personal development outside the game of football. He’s active in community service endeavors for the football team as well as creating opportunities for personal brand development. He takes a “life-long” learning approach with the student-athletes and has cultivated relationships with student-athletes for many years using this approach.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Arnold spent 18 years at Grand Valley State University serving as the director of academic services for Laker Athletics before joining Brian Kelly’s staff at LSU.
Dr. Arnold has long been a successful motivational speaker and has provided leadership training to a wide range of groups – professionals, executives, athletes, students and individuals across the United States – during his career.
Dr. D.F. Arnold understands success and failure. He also understands how to motivate others to achieve their dreams. After getting kicked-out of two different high schools and ultimately graduating from a continuation school, his message is simple “It’s not how you start, but how you finish that counts.”
He has been a facilitator at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) leadership conferences. He has served on panels to discuss the state of public schools, and is the author of The African American Student Athlete Experience at a Predominately White Institution.
He’s also authored several powerful and life-changing inspirational books including “It’s Not a Secret, It’s Just Life” and “The PyramIT of Purpose”.
Dr. Arnold holds an A.A. in Behavioral Science from Citrus Community College, a B.A. and an M.A. from Chico State University, as well as an M.S. in Sports Psychology from the University of Idaho. Dr. Arnold received his Ph.D. in Education Administration from Washington State University.