By John Howell Sr.
A multiple vehicle crash on Highway 6 East at its intersection with the Terza and Lawrence Brothers Roads claimed the life of 44-year-old University of Akron assistant head coach Alan Arrington about 1 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Arrington, an Oxford native, was the husband of the former Gail Perkins of Batesville.
Arrington was in his second season with Akron where last year he had been recipient of the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

The coach had come to the University of Akron with Head Coach Terry Bowden from the University of North Alabama (UNA). Arrington had spent six years with the Division II North Alabama school, the last three coaching with Bowden, according to the University of Akron web site.

Arrington had spent 12 years prior to UNA coaching at Northwest Mississippi Community College where he had served as offensive line coach and also head softball coach.
 In 2001, he was named NWCC offensive coordinator, an office he held until 2004.

While coaching at NWCC, the Rangers won three state championships and compiled an 84-28 record. During five of his 12 seasons there, the Rangers were ranked in the top six nationally in total offense and led the country in total offense in 1999 and 2000.