Referee Steve Shaw and Mark Sanchez during the 2009 Rose Bowl Game. NFF Photo
National Football Foundation Press Release
Football Officiating Coordinators will gather in Irving, Texas, for annual meeting, marking their 12th year at the location.
IRVING, Texas (Jan. 27, 2025) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that the annual winter meeting of Division I conference coordinators for football officials is taking place Jan. 28-29 for the 12th year at NFF Headquarters in Irving, Texas. The meeting is being led by College Football Officiating (CFO) National Coordinator Steve Shaw. NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell will kick off the meeting with opening remarks.
“We are again grateful to the National Football Foundation for welcoming the coordinators for our winter meeting to their hometown,” said Shaw. “The Foundation and the officiating side of college football both exist to make this a better game, and the coordinators are pleased to continue our relationship. The partnership with the NFF is extremely important to the coordinators in our joint work for the good of this great game.”
The CFO was formed in 2008 by the NCAA and the Collegiate Commissioners’ Association to ensure the consistent application of NCAA football playing rules and policies around the country. Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher currently serves as the chairman of the CFO Board of Managers. The officiating coordinators from all 23 NCAA Division I conferences, covering both the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision, are participating in the meeting. The meeting covers the most recent rule interpretations, officiating mechanics and other aspects of officiating.
“We take great pride in hosting the annual winter meeting of Division I officiating coordinators here at our headquarters,” said Hatchell. “The meeting and the CFO’s efforts play a vital role in preserving the integrity of college football, and since 2013, we have been privileged to support the CFO and its mission. We are delighted to welcome them back to Las Colinas as they continue their critical work to better the game.”
The January meeting represents one of two annual meetings that take place, allowing the members of the CFO to regularly exchange ideas, analyze video, discuss play situations and ensure the consistent application of the rules between the conferences around the country. The officiating coordinators play the lead role at their respective conferences in overseeing all aspects of their football officiating, including training, evaluating and assigning officials to games for both the regular season and postseason. In addition to hosting the meeting, the NFF supports the CFO by distributing the rule changes at the start of each season as well as the CFO-NCAA Media Video during the season, which explains recent play calls.
Shaw, who became the CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials in March 2020, previously served the Southeastern Conference and Sun Belt Conference as coordinator of officials. He also serves as the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, a position critical to the development of competition rules and policies. Shaw excelled as a head referee for 15 years in the SEC, earning 14 postseason assignments, including two national championship games. He has been a leader in revamping the sport’s officiating mechanics and advancing the use of technology to assist officials.
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