Speakers Who Are Sports Referees and Officials — 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. 

Speakers Who Are Sports Referees and Officials — Page 2 of 3 (26 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

• Steve Palermo — Former MLB Umpire

  Steve Palermo, from Worcester, Massachusetts, was widely considered one of the best umpires in the game of baseball. A former MLB umpire, Palermo worked in the American league for fourteen years, from

• Violet Palmer — First Female Referee to Ref an All Star Game at Any Sport

  Violet Palmer made history in the 1997 season opener for the Vancouver Grizzlies when she became the first female referee to officiate a game in the NBA. Not only was this the first instance in the NB

• 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

• Mike Pereira — Former NFL Vice President of Officiating

  Mike Pereira got his start in the NFL as a side judge on an officiating crew in 1996 and 1997. After that he took over as the Senior Director of Officiating and then worked his way up to being named t

• 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

• 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

• Mike Reilly — MLB Umpire

  Mike Reilly has been an umpire in Major League Baseball since 1977. Prior to getting his start as a big league umpire he attended K.C.C. Junior College and earned his associates degree. Reilly became

• Jordan Samuels-Thomas — Only Full-Time Black Official in the AHL

  Jordan Samuels-Thomas is on track to become just the third black on-ice official in NHL history. Samuels-Thomas is currently officiating in the AHL, where he is also the only full-time person of color

• 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

• Sarah Thomas — First Full-Time Female Official in NFL History

  Sarah Thomas is a current NFL official and the first full-time female official in league history. Thomas was hired in 2015 and she has continued to draw praise from her colleagues and people around th

• Lo Van Pham — The First Asian American Official in NFL History

  Lo Van Pham has made history as the first Asian American official in NFL history. Pham has an amazing story, being born in Laos after his family had fled fighting in Vietnam. He spent time as a refuge