MARTINSVILLE, VA – Patrick & Henry Community College has announced the hiring of Jim Arnold as its next head golf coach.  Arnold is set to take over for James Draper, who led the Pats to the 2022 Region 10 Golf Championship and was awarded Coach of the Year.

"As the father of a former student-athlete at Patrick & Henry Community College, Jim understands the power of athletics on young men and women," said Brian Henderson, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Athletic Director.  "As a former NCAA Division I student-athlete himself, he also understands the commitment that must be made by both the coach and student-athlete.  We are thrilled to have him take on this head-coaching position and trust he will lead the team to achieve in all aspects of their life at P&H."

Arnold is a Henry County native who graduated from Fieldale-Collinsville High School in 1989. While at F-C, he was a member of back-to-back State Championship golf teams, while adding a runner-up individual finish and was the Roanoke Times "Timesland Player of the Year" in 1988 when he claimed the State Individual Championship. Arnold also played on the golf team during his time at Elon College, making multiple All-Conference and All-District teams, as well as being the South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year in 1990. Additionally, he was named an NCAA Academic All-American in 1993 and voted the Scholar Athlete of the Year for the South Atlantic Conference the same year. 

After playing on multiple mini tours after graduation, Arnold was in the golf business for twelve years in various roles at multiple golf clubs. During his tenure in the golf industry, he also ran numerous golf camps/schools, taught individual golf lessons, and began a middle school golf program in Halifax County, Virginia, coaching the team for three years prior to moving back to Henry County in 2005. 

"I would like to thank the search committee and Brian Henderson for selecting me for this role and believing in my vision for not just the Patrick & Henry Community College Men's Golf program, but also the addition of a Women's Golf program, which will be a priority for me," said Arnold, adding, "I would also like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support. My family has a special relationship with Patrick & Henry and I can't wait to help grow the program that Coach Draper has done such a fantastic job with the past few years."

Coach Arnold is actively recruiting student-athletes interested in joining the program beginning this Spring 2024.  If interested, please visit www.phccsports.com for more information.