Mike Kitts Selected Coordinator of E8 Men’s Basketball Officials
ROCHESTER, NY –Mike Kitts, regarded as one of college basketball’s top officials for the past 30 years, has been hired as the Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials for the Empire 8 Athletic Conference for the 2013-14 season.
Basketball is the first sport Empire 8 has secured its own officials assignor and Kitts will serve as the first-ever coordinator.
“This will be a great transition for me and I am excited for the opportunity to give back to my own profession,” said Kitts. “Officiating for 30 years has been a blessing and am ready to work with young officials to as they strive to reach a high level of effectiveness and integrity.”
Kitts is a seasoned professional who has officiated at the highest level of the game. By his own count, Kitts has officiated in 20 NCAA Tournaments, including four Final Four appearances. He has worked in many of the country’s top conferences during his career, including the Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, Atlantic 10, MAAC and Patriot League.
In 2009, Kitts was the recipient of the Naismith Award, given annually to the nation’s top referee.
“We are very excited to usher in a new and important era for basketball in the Empire 8,” said E8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “Mike has the utmost respect in basketball circles not just in NY state but across the country. The end result will be an outstanding result for our basketball teams and enhancement to the officiating community as well. We are committed to opening up resources to assist Mike and our pool of officials to be the best in Division III.”
A Syracuse native, Kitts played both basketball and baseball for St. Anthony's, winning all-league honors in both sports. He played college ball for Onondaga Community College and many years in the city's Classic Recreational Basketball League.
In 1979, he began officiating high school basketball games and quickly moved to Division II and III in 1981. The big move came in 1985 when he jumped to Division I.
Kitts worked for the City of Syracuse Parks and Recreation for 19 years, including 11 as the civil service recreation program director for 11 years before retiring.