Born to Lead

BORN TO LEAD debuts May 30, 2026

Some men coach games. Steve Arnold transformed lives.

He wasn’t supposed to succeed in Warren, Ohio. Steve was raised in a single-parent home, lived on the wrong side of the tracks, and his complexion was darker than most in his chosen profession. But he was always watching, constantly learning, and eagerly absorbing the intricacies of life and how it intersects with sport. 

His foundation was designed by the devoted hands of a loving mother, an activist grandfather, and friends and neighbors who cared. They, and dozens more, showed him that culture — built on discipline, hard work, and genuine love — was the harbinger of success. 

When opportunity finally knocked, and Coach Arnold became the first African American head coach in Warren City Schools history, he was ready. And he won. 

Arnold proved that leadership, whether on the Burton Street courts or in Ohio’s finest arenas, was about influencing young lives, service to community, and creating more leaders. 

That is his legacy, and this is his story.