Longtime coach Isaac 'Ike' Arnold, 72, dies

Isaac "Ike" Arnold, a longtime Richmond County educator and coach, died Friday after a long illness. He was 72.

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Isaac Arnold: Educator was known as "Coach" to those he taught during his 30-year career.

Mr. Arnold was known as "Coach" to those he taught during a 30-year career, most of which was spent in Richmond County public schools.

In that time, he served as a special education teacher, driving instructor and coach in football, basketball, track and golf at Lucy C. Laney and T.W. Josey high schools.

The retired educator also was known for encouraging students -- many from the inner city -- to further their education and to make a difference.

"He was very inspirational to the kids and he really cared about them," said Marion E. Barnes, the president of the Richmond County Board of Education and a family friend.

Mr. Barnes, a former principal at T.W. Josey, worked with Mr. Arnold for many years at the school. "I thought a lot of Ike as a coach and an educator. He put the kids first, they came first for him," Mr. Barnes said.

Arnold is survived by his wife of 45 years, Catherine, two daughters, Deetra Whatley and Latasha Arnold, a son, Troy Arnold, and a granddaughter. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. today at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, 1714 Olive Road.

His daughter, Latasha, said her dad was the epitome of a great father and was always there for his children.

The family ate dinner together every night, even if that meant waiting for him to finish football practice, she said. That tradition continued after the children left home, with husband and wife sitting down at the dinner table each day to eat and talk.

Countless people have approached her throughout the years to tell her about the impact her father had on them as students, said Ms. Arnold, who is an instructional coach at Hephzibah High School. "He had such compassion. They knew he cared," she said. "He only wanted the best for them."

Mr. Arnold was born in Tallahassee, Fla., and graduated in 1954 from Lincoln High School. A star athlete, he won a football scholarship to South Carolina State College.

His success continued on and off the field at the historical African-American institution. Mr. Arnold earned a bachelor's degree in education and later a master's degree in special education from the college before joining the U.S. Army for two years.

After marrying his wife, Catherine Sapp, known as "Miss Kitty," in March 1964, Mr. Arnold began his teaching career in Allendale, S.C., and then moved to Augusta. He served as football coach at Lucy C. Laney from 1984 to 1992, recording a 23-66-1 record.

He also spent two years in Orangeburg, S.C., serving as an assistant football coach for his alma mater.

A member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Mr. Arnold was an avid golfer and participated in many tournaments in the Augusta area. A photo of him playing golf was once published in National Geographic magazine, his family said.

Reach Erin Zureick at (706) 823-3217 or erin.zureick@augustachronicle.com.