Sports Referees and Officiating Speakers — Book Athlete Speakers

Sports referees and officials play an important and sometimes underappreciated role in every sporting event. The decisions they make in arenas and on the fields of play change the outcomes of games and sometimes become known throughout history. Speakers who are sports referees and officials also often go on to notable roles on television and radio, making them great personalities for a host of events. They can become keynote speakers and make appearances at conferences, virtual meetings, trade shows, parties and more. 

Sports Referees and Officiating Speakers — Page 1 of 3 (25 speakers)

• Ashley Moyer-Gleich — NBA Referee & Trailblazer as One of the League’s Top Female Officials

  Ashley Moyer‑Gleich was born on August 5, 1987, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and she is a trailblazing NBA referee (#13) who is currently in her sixth season on the roster. She played college basketball

• Big John McCarthy — First Head Referee for the UFC

  John McCarthy was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and was the first-ever referee in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. McCarthy got his start as a referee after a long and decorated career

• Bob Delaney — NBA Referee

  Bob Delaney is a former referee in the National Basketball Association. Bob got his start in refereeing as a high school basketball referee in New Jersey while also working as a police officer for the

• Carol Polis — First Woman Professional Boxing Judge

  Carol Polis is the first ever professional boxing judge in the world. Prior to becoming a boxing judge, Polis was a multisport athlete during high school where she was a swimmer, diver, and tennis pla

• Ed Hochuli — Retired NFL Referee Who Officiated Two Super Bowls

  Ed Hochuli is no ordinary lawyer; the attorney from Jones, Skelton, & Hochuli had a lengthy tenure as the NFL's most recognized official. It's not often that a referee is seen to be just as large, if

• Garrett Rank — NHL Referee and Golfer

  NHL referee and amateur golfer Garrett Rank punched his ticket to the 2018 U.S. Open by tying for first with a two-under 71-71 in the 36-hole sectional qualifier at the Settindown Creek Course at Geor

• Gene Steratore — Former NFL Official and Current CBS Sports Rules Analyst

  Gene Steratore is a former NFL official who worked in the league from 2003-18. Steratore quickly made his way up the league ranks, starting as a field judge before being promoted to referee in 2006. H

• Gerry Austin — Retired NFL Referee

  Gerry Austin was born 1941 and is a retired American football official, who worked in the National Football League (NFL) from the 1982 season through the 2007 season. He wore uniform number 34, which

• Herb Dean — UFC Referee

  Herb Dean is considered the gold standard when it comes to referees in the UFC. Dean has officiated over 5,700 mixed martial arts matches across the globe. He has been involved in some of the biggest

• Hunter Wendelstedt — MLB Umpire

  Hunter Wendelstedt is an MLB umpire who has worked within the MLB for 16 years. His father, Harry Wendelstedt, was a long time umpire from 1966 to 1988, inspiring his son to do the same. Originally st

• Jen Pawol — First Woman to Umpire a Major League Baseball Game

  Jen Pawol made history as the first woman to umpire a regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) game during a Marlins-Braves series on August 9-10, 2025, at Truist Park. Pawol, the seventh woman to u

• Joe Cortez — Puerto Rican Boxing Referee

  Joe Cortez began working as a boxing referee after a successful amateur boxing career in which he won numerous Golden Gloves titles from 1960 to 1962. In 1983 he turned pro and posted an 18-1 record b