Member Spotlight: Meet Cody

Officiating stories don’t all start the same—and that’s what makes them so powerful. This week, we’re spotlighting Cody, whose journey into football officiating started with a push from his wife and turned into a total life transformation.
From calling fouls from the couch to running five miles a day and stepping onto the field 125 pounds lighter, Cody has found a new passion, a new team, and the best seat in the house.
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Here’s Cody’s story, in his own words:

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What made you decide to become a football official?
Honestly, this was something my wife really thought I should do. I had retired from the corporate life and was looking for something to fill my time. One lazy Sunday, we were watching football, and as most of us do, I was calling all the fouls from the comfort of my recliner in 4K. Karen turned to me and said, “That’s what you should do—you should go ref football. You’d be great at it!”
I laughed and said, “Yeah, I doubt that.” At the time, I was over 330 pounds and in no shape to run around a yard, much less a football field. After listing all the reasons I wouldn’t be a good official, she fired back with her list of reasons I would. With that, and maybe a little bit of cosmic karma, I decided to set it as a goal.
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That was March 2021. By November 2022, I had reached my goal weight of 205 pounds—125 pounds lost—and was running an average of five miles a day. I emailed the association and started my officiating journey in May 2023 with my first meeting.

Do you officiate any other sports?
I did wrestling in my first year, which was a good experience. But this past year, I decided to really focus solely on football.

What do you enjoy most about officiating?
This is tough—there’s no way I could pick just one reason. My first year felt like playing a round of golf. Some games were rough, others were better, and once in a while, I’d hit that perfect “shot.” It was those moments when it all clicked that kept me coming back.
My second year was a different experience. I was more relaxed, understood more, and I had the incredible opportunity to be assigned to an outstanding crew. That’s when I really fell in love with it. That group made every Friday night something I looked forward to. They pushed me to be better with each game. It’s all the love and excitement I had as a player, reborn—and it’s the best seat in the house.

What would you tell someone who’s thinking about joining?
Do it! If the thought has crossed your mind and you love the sport—go for it. The feelings you had as a player are the same ones you get to experience again while watching the next generation of student-athletes. You’re front row for every joyful and heartbreaking moment these games bring.

How many years have you been officiating high school football?
I’ll be going into my third year this upcoming season—and it can’t get here fast enough.