“It’s one of those skills that takes you around the world.”
Today, Johnson continues to work college basketball while also serving as a national referee coach for Canada Basketball, evaluating and training officials across the country. His shift toward leadership and development came naturally. “My ability to get on the floor is diminished by my current job (of city manager),” he said, “so I spend more time doing evaluation and training with our next generation of officials. That’s a lot of fun as well.”
Johnson’s introduction to NASO came in 2016, when he traveled to the Summit to celebrate Ron Foxcroft receiving the Gold Whistle Award. “I was hooked,” he said. “I found the sessions incredibly engaging.”
Since then, Johnson has attended every NASO Summit, and the organization became a cornerstone of his professional development.
“As my career moved more into administration and leadership, NASO was attractive because of the way it exercises leadership in the sector,” he said. “I also like the ability to talk to officials across all sports. There are many similarities but also some unique differences, and NASO is the only place you really get that.”
When the opportunity came to join the board, Johnson saw it as both an honor and a chance to contribute on a broader scale. “It’s amazing to say I’m on the board of directors of this organization that just under 10 years ago I was introduced to for the first time,” he said.
From Johnson’s perspective, the biggest challenge officials face today isn’t mechanics or rules knowledge — it’s the environment outside the lines.
“There’s a tremendous amount of pressure wherever we officiate,” he said. “Officials are subjected to pro-level scrutiny in their very first year. We’d never expect that of athletes, but for officials it’s the norm.”
That scrutiny can drive newcomers away. Johnson believes retention depends not just on training but also on protection and support. “We have to make sure our materials to attract and train people are top-notch,” he said, “but we also have to protect them from the inappropriate stuff that drives people out of the profession.”
At a Glance
- Favorite TV Show (all-time): Seinfeld
- Favorite Food: A nice well-cooked steak
- Last Book Read (not a rulebook): How Big Things Get Done
- Favorite Musical Artist: The Tragically Hip
- Favorite Movie: A Few Good Men
- Hobbies Outside Officiating: Spending time with my nephew
- Advice to New Officials: “Always have your equipment in the back of your car. You never know when the opportunity will come.”
Looking ahead, Johnson wants NASO to help local associations strengthen their leadership. He recalls his own transition to president of his local basketball association. “All of a sudden, I was the leader of 200 officials in Hamilton, and there was nobody I could turn to who knew how to run an organization,” he said. “Thankfully, I had mentors like Ron Foxcroft to help.”
While NASO supports many groups through its Association Advantage program, Johnson believes NASO can play that role on an even larger scale.
At the same time, Johnson wants to make sure the joy of officiating isn’t forgotten. “It’s so much fun. We need to keep communicating that,” he said. “The most fun you will ever have if you love your sport is to get involved as an official.”
