Larned basketball referee Kyle LeRoy saw the NJCAA runner-up Cowley College up close. LeRoy worked Cowley’s 134-107 victory over Trinity Valley, Texas in Hutchinson last spring.

The highest halftime score in NJCAA Tournament history was 77-70. There were 73 3-pointers attempted and 61 free throws.

LeRoy’s favorite statistic?

“I ran 7.3 miles that game,” he said. “It was unreal, but it was fun. It’s the most athletic NJCAA game they’ve ever seen. Cowley shot a lot of 3-pointers and full-court pressed.”

LeRoy told his dream of working Division 1 basketball to the Great Bend Rotary Club members Monday. LeRoy teaches mathematics in Larned and serves as an assistant baseball coach with the Larned Indians.

“My goal is to officiate full-time Division 1 basketball,” he said. “Hopefully, some day, I get there.”

The top levels of basketball pay $1,000 to $2,000 per game with traveling expenses paid for. 

Ground-floor opportunities for top-level officiating start with “auditioning,” during summertime camps. which each major conference conducts.   

“I want to move up to Division 1,” LeRoy said. “How you do that? You go to camps and get critiqued. They watch how you interact with coaches and players. They watch mechanics and where you stand and the fouls you call. You get graded on that. Part of it is whether you look the part.”

LeRoy has attended referee camps for the Big 10, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference.

“To get into the Division 1 camps, you need to know somebody, or they’ve got to hear who you are,” he said. “I’ve worked to get my name out there.”

LeRoy made a viral video impact last summer when he told a prominent basketball recruit “to knock off the crap. He gave me the weirdest look ever.”

LeRoy graduated from Fort Hays State and earned master’s degrees from Kearney State (Neb). and Emporia State. He started working recreational leagues when he attended Great Bend High School. He’s progressed to junior college, KCAC, NAIA and NCAA Division 2 basketball. He works Jayhawk Conference games west of Great Bend and travels to Oklahoma. 

“I love officiating and the people I’ve met,” he said. “I could travel anywhere in the country, and get help within 20 minutes if my car broke down.” 

LeRoy enjoys the collegiate atmosphere so much, he missed the lack of feedback from fans last year.

“I personally didn’t like it,” he said. “I kind of enjoy fans yelling and getting after me. At high school, it was more enjoyable because the kids were having fun. At college, you had to warn players and coaches they had to be careful what they said. If anybody said something, everybody could hear it.”

LeRoy does a careful self-examination when he watches tapes of games. 

“I watch film several hours a week critiquing myself,” he said. “I watch what I did  right or wrong. Sometimes you miss a call or a player blocks your view and you don’t see it.”

LeRoy said he does a good job tuning out negative commentary and focuses on his next call.

“You get yelled at. That’s how it works. You learn from everything,” he said. “Over time, it gets easier. Once you do games, you figure it out. As long as you’re consistent, they don’t care.” 

In a perfect world, LeRoy said his goal is always to have everyone forget who was officiating. 

“I want you to know I’m not there,” he said. “If you see me, I want you to forget I’ve even there.” 

LeRoy does the work because he enjoys it.

But...

“I want a comma in my paycheck some day,” he said. “If there’s a comma, I’m doing good.”