Weber State University Athletics
Hall of Fame - Sark Arslanian
3/5/2015 6:14:00 PM | Wildcat Club
Sark Arslanian
Football Coach (1965-72)
Inducted February 1991
Sarkis Arslanian built the Weber State football program in prominence in the 1960s and 70s, setting the groundwork for successes to come.
A native of Fresno, California, with strong ties to his Armenian heritage, Arslanian posted a 50-26-2 record through 1965 to 1972 season, and left the school as the all-time winningest football coach.
Arslanian graduated from Granite High School in Salt Lake City, served in the Naval Air Corps in World War II, then enjoyed a two-year stint at Dixie Junior College, playing football, basketball and track while also serving as class president.
Arslanian began his college coaching career in 1955 at Dixie College, posting a sterling 64-26-9 mark over nine seasons. In his final two seasons, the Rebels went 18-1. He was also the baseball coach and athletic director.
Arslanian guided the Wildcats to the Big Sky Conference titles in 1965 and 1968, when the Wildcats were co-champions on both occasions.
The Wildcats were ranked fifth nationally in 1965, finishing with a glossy 8-1-0 overall record. The winning percentage (.889) is the best in Weber State history.
A talented recruiter, Arslanian was named national coach of the year in 1969 by Armenian Weekly.
Arslanian coached at Colorado State University from 1973 to 1982, then worked for years as a scout for Canadian Football and U.S. teams. He later coached pro teams in Milan, Italy, and Tokyo, Japan, and also introduced the sport to youth in Armenia
Coach Sark and his late wife, Verlyn, had three sons and three daughters. His sons Dave Arslanian and Paul Arslanian played and later coached at Weber State.
Following his retirement, Arslanian returned to St. George, but continued to find coaching opportunities at local high schools.
Arslanian is a member of the Dixie State Athletic Hall of Fame In 2013, the football field at Dixie's Hansen Stadium was named Sark Arslanian Field.
Arslanian is also a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the Pop Warner National Hall of Fame and the All American Football Foundation honor roll.