Our guest speaker for this meeting will be NFL Referee Brad Allen. Allen, a 1991 graduate of UNC-Pembroke, has been officiating games for more than 35 years. On March, 21, 2014, Allen reached the pinnacle of his career, receiving a call from Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, asking him to “come work for me on Sundays.” He was originally going to be an umpire, but when long-time referee Mike Carey announced his retirement on June 24, 2014, Allen was given the referee position instead – this was the first time since 1962 that an NFL official in his first year of officiating was given that honor.
Allen’s journey to becoming a referee started well before his days at UNCP. In 1986, he became an official with the Southeastern Athletic Officials Association. He continued to call local games after advancing to the college ranks as an Atlantic Coast Conference official. Among his biggest games are the 2012 Rose Bowl, the 2014 Sugar Bowl and the Army-Navy game.
In addition to being a referee, Allen is the Executive Director/President of the North Carolina Senior Games and the regional supervisor of high school basketball officials. He juggles his full-time duties with his “full-time, part-time job” in the NFL, relying on a strong work ethic, support from home and a hunger for improvement to help him maintain a standard of excellence in all three jobs.
Mark Your Calendar!
4/20/22 – Larry Gallo, Executive Associate Athletic Director, UNC Athletics
5/4/22 – Special Guest Speaker to be announced
5/18/22 – Another Special Guest Speaker to be announced
6/1/22 – Scholar Athlete Awards Night Banquet