 Born in Ogden, Utah, Arnold grew up in Pocatello, Idaho and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1952.He then attended Idaho State University in Pocatello and lettered on the Idaho State Bengals basketball team from 1954 to 1956.After graduating from Idaho State in 1956, Arnold became an assistant basketball coach at Payette High School in Payette, Idaho in 1956.