Sarkis Arslanian is not only a Hall of Fame Football Coach, but even more importantly he is the “Hall of Fame Father” for Eagle Ranch Academy Founders, Paul & Dave Arslanian (and 4 other children as well – Sandra, Robyn, Shanan, and James).
He was married to Verlyn Metcalf Arslanian for 37 years, and together they raised 6 successful children that have repeated the cycle by raising successful children of their own.
Sark & Verlyn Arslanian are the inspiration behind Eagle Ranch Academy. They showed how children in a loving, nurturing, disciplined home will grow and flourish; and then will repeat the cycle in their own homes. They also showed how to give of themselves to others, and how a helping hand along the way can truly make the difference in someone’s life at a critical time.
Verlyn, prior to her death from a long battle with cancer, was the glue that held everything together. Not only did she support “Coach Sark” in his coaching career, and raise 6 children; she also graduated from Utah State University as the Valedictorian of the Business College with 5 of those children hanging from her apron strings. Number 6 was a graduation gift for the family!
Coach Sark (as he is called by all that know him) was voted “least likely to succeed” by his junior high classmates, and has shown us all how to succeed when the odds are against you. His Parents died when he was 13, and with the help of a junior high football coach he made the decision to be a survivor rather than a victim. For more details see his bio on the ERA Special Guest page. It is a great story all ERA Students get to hear during their stay at Eagle Ranch.
Coach Sark says this about ERA: “I was sad when Paul and Dave decided to leave successful coaching careers; but now that I have seen the significant impact their school is having on young peoples lives, I couldn’t be happier. As football coaches, together they built many winning programs; and they always took as much pride in the character and life skills development of their players as they did the football development. They produced many All-Americans and professional players, but their greatest satisfaction seemed to come from the great and successful young men they helped produce. Every year in coaching they had a handful of players that without football could have been dead or in jail; and now Paul and Dave have a school full of kids that without the opportunity of coming to Eagle Ranch, they would be dead or in jail. I couldn’t be prouder of my ‘coaching sons’ for the impact they are having on these important kids and their families.”