I began officiating at the age of 13 for the Tinley Park Bobcats as a way to make some extra money. Since then I have started working NCAA DI, DII, NAIA, and JUCO baseball. In addition, I am a supervisor for the Great Plains Athletic Conference Umpires. This season I am most excited about recruiting, educating, and observing new officials.
I was inspired to try officiating in 2017 after watching my brother play basketball. Since then I have worked NCAA DII, NAIA, and JUCO basketball, NAIA and high school football, and high school girls lacrosse. I enjoy the challenge of officiating, the spirit of continuous improvement, and sharing opportunities with other officials.
Started because I love baseball. Turned into because I love sports so why not get paid to watch them. Baseball work 8u to lower level college, football youth to high school varsity, basketball youth to jv. What gets me excited the most about officiating is trying to get better each game and trying to get people to enjoy officiating as much as I do.
I called my first baseball game in 1975. Since then, I have been involved in football, basketball and baseball sports officiating. I am primarily assigned to work with beginning umpires and work in our video observation program. Being able to be on the field and part of the game keeps me going. It is very rewarding to help provide the tools and information that help umpires achieve their goals and advance as far as their skill, motivation and resilience will take them. “The best ability is availability.”
I began officiating in 2019 at Wayne State College. The intramural program gave me the opportunity to officiate basketball and flag football. When I moved to Omaha in 2022 I realized that I could have a career doing it. Since then I have worked High School, JUCO, NAIA, DIII, and DII in both basketball and football. I look at every game as a new opportunity to better my self no matter what the level is and that is what gets me coming back every time.