Tom Arth is expected to be the next head coach at Akron, sources tell FootballScoop.
An announcement could come as soon today.
The front-runner for the job, Arth is currently in his second season as the head coach at Chattanooga, but best known in Ohio for his work at his alma mater, Division III John Carroll in Cleveland.
He went 40-8 in five seasons leading the Blue Streaks, and became the only coach not wearing Mount Union purple to win the Ohio Athletic Conference in the past quarter century.
That 2016 John Carroll team reached the Division III semifinals, knocking off perennial Division III power Wisconsin-Whitewater as well.
A Cleveland area native, Arth built a career as a journeyman professional quarterback in the NFL -- including a role backing up Peyton Manning in Indianapolis for a time -- NFL Europe, Canada and the arena league before returning to John Carroll College in 2011, first as an assistant, then as head coach.
Arth left John Carroll for Chattanooga after the 2016 season, and has gone 9-13 in two seasons.
He takes over an Akron program that has experienced one winning season since 2006.
Akron was the last opening at the FBS level in the 2018-19 coaching cycle as of this writing.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update> Several outlets are now confirming the hire:
Afternoon Update> Sources tell FootballScoop the sides have run into an unexpected issue and at this time the deal is not finalized. Stay tuned.... All good. Done deal now.