GSC Celebrates Officials Appreciation Week
The Division II Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and Division II Athletics Directors Association (D2ADA) have partnered to create Officials Appreciation Week. There will be one week in the fall (10/7 - 10/13), one week in the winter (1/27 - 2/2), and one week in the spring (4/6 - 4/12) where we as a division will come together to thank all of our officials.
In the Gulf South Conference, the league office and the GSC SAAC Leadership Team have worked together to maximize participation across the conference. Schools will be engaging with initiatives on social media and reading PA announcements at home contests. The GSC also supports the D2CCA and the D2ADA in their Collegiate Player-to-Ref initiative, which teaches student-athletes who have concluded their college playing careers about the benefits and advantages on becoming an official. Read more about Division II's effort to address the officiating crisis
here.
If you are interested in becoming an official in the GSC, please click on the specific sport links to see the process:
Basketball /
Football /
Soccer /
Baseball /
Softball
Below, profiles of GSC officials will be posted throughout the week, spotlighting the people who help make the league one of the premier conferences in Division II!
Esteban Eordogh
Sport: Soccer
Years as an Official: 12 years, with the last seven as a college official
Full-Time Job: Information Technology as an Application Developer Specialist
How did you get started in officiating?
"I was playing in our local adults league, and I needed a little money. After doing a few games, I realized I actually enjoyed it."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"It is a completely different adrenaline rush than playing the game. You’re competing against yourself to make the best out of the game, and when the game is good, you got the best seat in the house!"
Kendall McCardell
Sport: Soccer
Years as an Official: Four years, with the last two as a college official
Full-Time Job: Physical Therapist Assistant
How’d you get started in officiating?
"After undergrad, I was looking to make some extra money. It turned
out that I really enjoyed it and got more involved in USSF (United States Soccer
Federation)."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Give it a chance. It’s a totally different experience and viewpoint from being
a player. It allows you to have one of the best seats in the house being on
the field. The adrenaline rush and excitement is the same as when I
played."
Charles Olson
Sport: Football
Years as an Official: 11
Full-Time Job: Hotel General Manager
How’d you get started in officiating?
"I stumbled into it. I just happened to run into a friend I hadn’t seen in several years, and it was the same day he was going to registration for that season. Being a new college graduate, I didn’t have a ton going on. I decided to give it a shot, and it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made."
What would tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Officiating sounds daunting, but once you’re involved and understand the process of working a game, everything changes. Outsiders wonder what it’s like dealing with coaches and the sidelines. That’s often the most rewarding part of the game. The difficult part is training yourself to lock-in for those few seconds a football play lasts for every single play. It takes focus, concentration, and commitment. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better way to stay involved in a game you once played."
Trey Miles
Sport: Women's Basketball
Years as an Official: 12 Years
Full-Time Job: Special Agent Forensic Scientist
How'd you get started in officiating?
"At the time, my wife, Sara was a basketball coach at a local high school in Nashville. I would always attend her games. Eventually, I saw myself watching the officials and wondering if I could do what they do. I signed up to officiate and got bit by the officiating bug."
What would you tell someone who is considerating officiating?
"Our profession is in dire need of quality officials that are quality people. First, I would tell someone to start small. Start by working Saturday morning intramural games. Learn the rules of the game. For whatever sport you decide to officiate, there is no substitute for rules knowledge and the mechanics system. Be a good person. Respectfulness, trustworthiness, and being nice are a few qualities that I associate with being a good person."
Grace McCoy
Sport: Track and Field
Years as an Official: 7 Years
Full-Time Job: Real Estate Fulfillment Team Manager - Banking
How'd you get started in officiating?
"I started as a volunteer at a former college of which I was an athlete. I liked doing that so much that I enquired about becoming an official."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"I would them that it is very exciting and fulfilling. It is something you look forward to all the time. The athletes, the other officials, the volunteers, the other people you get to meet, the places you go all make it worthwhile."
qualities that I associate with being a good person."
Chase Shaw
Sport: Men's Basketball
Years as an Official: 7 Years
Full-Time Job: Real Estate Agent
How'd you get started in officiating?
"My father was a Division 1 referee for almost 25 years and officiated multiple final fours! Growing up around the game and seeing the dream job my father had drove me to want to do the same thing!"
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"It equals the same adrenaline as my playing days! I’m in love with the game of basketball, therefore it makes officiating a dream job! It has helped with communication skills beyond belief, and if you make it into the collegiate ranks, there’s quite a bit of money to be made! I highly suggest that former players and people who love the game should give it a try!"
qualities that I associate with being a good person."
Terri Tubbs
Sport: Women's Basketball
Years as an Official: 24 Years
Full-Time Job: Workers Comp Account Manager
How’d you get started in officiating?
"I wanted to stay involved after playing four years of college basketball. And I wanted to make some extra money as a graduate student."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Be approachable. Stay grounded. Learn from everyone. Sometimes when you’re right, you’re wrong and when you’re wrong, you’re right!"
David Bahakel
Sport: Track and Field
Years as an Official: 18 Years
Full-Time Job: Online Trade/International Retail (Retired)
How'd you get started in officiating?
"My cousin got me involved at a local high school meet. I then started working more meets each year."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"You have to have a love for the sport. If you enjoy working with kids and are willing to sacrifice your time, then the rewards will be nice."
Byron Evans
Sports: Volleyball and Basketball
Years as an Official: 20 Years in Basketball; 8 Years in Volleyball
Full-Time Job: Real Estate Investor
How'd you get started in officiating?
"My father encouraged me to get involved in basketball officiating when I was in college. He had already been refereeing college basketball for many years, and I went to a lot of games with him as a child. It was a natural transition."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"I highly recommend that kids get involved in college. There's a lot of opportunity. You get the chance to see the world and get paid to do it. It can become a good source of extra income."
Dr. Rick Bewley
Sports: Tennis and Softball
Years as an Official: 24 Years in Tennis; 46 Years in Softball
Full-Time Job: Retired Engineering Manager with a power company and former adjunct college professor. Also does Christian entertainment such as magic shows, juggling, piano, and public speaking.
How'd you get started in officiating?
"My younger brother was a tennis pro in a nearby city. He asked me to come and help with his tournaments. I was running the pro shop and stringing rackets. One day, he asked me to get certified so I could help out on court when needed. I've been hooked ever since."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Anyone can study and learn the rules. The hardest part about being an official is dealing with the coaches and players. You are going to get yelled at. Be polite, be firm, and be helpful. Never lose your cool. Officiating gives you a wonderful adrenaline rush and the best seat in the house."
Tony Kingsolver
Sports: Women's Lacrosse, Football, and Softball
Years as an Official: 8 Years
Full Time Job: Data Collections Specialist for Root Metrics
How'd you get started in officiating?
"I was interested in officiating for several years before I actually found a way to do it. I met a gentleman who officiated football in Atlanta, and although I wasn’t living in Atlanta at the time, he helped me locate the local football officials association. Officiating circles, particularly at the high school level, tend to foster a communal environment where you are welcomed to do other sports if you have an interest. With such a tremendous need for officials, particularly at the youth and scholastic high school levels, identifying individuals who are interested and willing to work at the craft is not always easy. When I started, I just kept those relationships with folks who invited me to do other sports such as basketball, girls lacrosse, and softball."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Sports NEEDS you, now more than ever!! Being a sports official is a rewarding and challenging profession, like most any other. It takes commitment to the craft and a dedication to make yourself the best you can be. It starts with that spark of interest. If you have any interest, or are a former player or coach looking for ways to reconnect with a sport you love, officiating is a great way to foster that connection. A willingness to learn and grow combined with an effort and dedication to improving is all it really takes to get started. From there, the ‘family’ of officials in each sport has a passion to help foster continued growth. The zebra team is the team that doesn’t get the win or loss after any game, but we certainly feel the reward of enhancing the playing experience for kids and young adults who are developing athletic and life skills through individual and team sports."
Chris Liles
Sports: Softball, Football, Volleyball, and Basketball
Years as an Official: 28 Years
Full Time Job: Compliance Coordinator for a chemical company
How'd you get started in officiating?
"I started calling slow pitch softball to stay around the game once I stopped playing. A guy then wanted me to work some rec league fast pitch games, and I fell in love with it. I've been doing it ever since. Once I got into softball, I started venturing out into other sports."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Find a mentor to talk to and help guide you. And don't listen to the crowd."
Brandon Schultz
Sport: Baseball
Years as an Official: 20 Years (13 in College Baseball) - Worked Division II National Championship Series in 2019
Full Time Job: Owner of a Car Dealership (Schultz Motors)
How'd you get started in officiating?
"I started umpiring when I was in high school. I worked youth games."
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"Umpiring Baseball is a great way to stay around the game. Umpires are a dying breed of people in the baseball community. Young people are needed to replace the veterans! The sky is the limit on advancement is officiating. The brotherhood that officials have is also something that you can't describe. Some of the best people I have met over the years was through officiating sports!"
Doug Moran
Sport: Track & Field
Years as an Official: Approximately 31 Years
Full time Job: Retired
How'd you get started in officiating?
"I started when my two boys were on the school track team in the late 80's. There were very few people who wanted to help, and I didn't want to sit in the stands for the whole track meet. I decided to help, and it then became a full time hobby.
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating?
"I would tell them that track is a very fulfilling hobby. Track is a team sport, an individual sport, and a social sport. This job is very heartfelt and rewarding. By this, I mean that the closeness to the kids will bond you to them, and them to you. The reason that I have officiated for 30+ years is the satisfaction I get from helping the kids get better.”