GLIAC Names McCann to Supervisor of Football Officials Post

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BAY CITY, Mich. — Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Commissioner Dell Robinson announced the hiring of Mike McCann to serve as the league’s supervisor of football officials, replacing the retiring Phil Barnes.  McCann will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2010.

    Barnes is completing his 15th year as the GLIAC supervisor of football officials.  He also spent three years as the conference’s Supervisor of Basketball Officials, earlier in his career.

    McCann, a native of Defiance, Ohio, recently retired from collegiate football officiating.  His outstanding career as a collegiate football official spanned over 20 years working in a number of NCAA Division II and III conferences.  McCann spent the last 14 years of his officiating career as a referee in the GLIAC (formerly MIFC).  He was selected to officiate in eight NCAA Division II and FCS playoff games, most recently serving as the referee in the Division II playoff game between Grand Valley State University and Hillsdale College on Nov. 21, 2009.

    McCann’s experience in officiating also includes over 20 years at the high school level, having spent 16 years as an umpire and having been selected to work the 1996 Ohio High School Athletic Association football championships.

    “Mike will bring a wealth of experience to our supervisor position and our football officiating program,” stated Commissioner Robinson.  “He will approach the position with enthusiasm and zeal to continue our pursuit of excellence in this area.”

    Barnes leaves the GLIAC after a stellar career in football officiating. From 1970-90 he officiated for the Big Ten and Mid-American Conferences. Since 1964, he has worked games at the NCAA Division II and III and NAIA levels. His officiating experience includes numerous bowl games as well as seven NCAA playoff games during a 20-year career. Over the years, he has officiated football games and given clinics in England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, and Finland. Barnes has worked for the Big 10 Conference as an overseer of officials for the past 19 years. He has also served as an officiating scout for the NFL for several years.

    “On behalf of the GLIAC, I would like to thank Phil Barnes for 15 years of outstanding service,” said Robinson.  “He has helped build a foundation for one of the finest football officiating programs in Division II.”

    McCann will become just the third supervisor of football officials for the GLIAC, which began play as the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference in 1990.

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