ABOUT US | WCBOO

Our Story

WCBOO began in August 2014 in New York when a group of educators and women’s basketball officials formed the Metropolitan Approved Girls Basketball Officials. MAGBO hosted professional development clinics, camps, and courses. Several current Division I officials attended as campers and worked as staff at MAGBO “In Position Camp.” MAGBO was at the forefront of online learning and NCAA women’s basketball leadership participated in our learning sessions.

In July 2019, Kerry Donohue and Jim Grillo met IAABO leaders Felix Addeo and Donnie Eppley at the NASO Summit. IAABO and MAGBO both had the same passion for educating basketball officials. In the fall of 2020, IAABO granted a charter to form a national women’s collegiate officials’ board. WCBOO became a unique entity - the first national education IAABO board for women’s collegiate basketball officials. We became - IAABO Board 801, otherwise known as WCBOO. This chartered IAABO board is not a local high school officials’ board. It is a collegiate level education board that does not encompass any specific local board territory. Any women’s collegiate official is eligible to be a WCBOO member.

WCBOO provides a non-competitive learning environment for our members. During the basketball season our “In Season Series” has open ended discussion and play breakdown. Our Education Team understands that it is intimidating to ask questions to coordinators or clinicians and they also know that there are no silly questions and no wrong answers in learning. This safe educational space is at the forefront of what WCBOO provides - the personal touch with each of our members.

Being a WCBOO member is completely voluntary. Our membership spans 25 states and 3 countries. We are a community of officials dedicated to learning and improving.
Membership gives you access to IAABO educational resources and learning opportunities, including the IAABO Fall Seminar annual education conference. Our Education Team is now developing “WCBOO Academy”, a series of free short, interactive online courses available 24/7/365, adding to the value of your membership. Check back often to follow WCBOO’s growth as a unified voice for women’s collegiate basketball officials!

Meet The Team

Kerry Donohue

Director of Education

Kerry is an NCAA Division I women’s collegiate observer and former longtime women’s collegiate official. As WCBOO’s Director of Education, Kerry’s passion has always been educating officials and helping them attain their officiating dreams.

Jim Grillo

President

Education has always been at the forefront of Jim’s officiating foundation. A women’s collegiate official turned NCAA observer, Jim provides critical feedback to help others improve. Jim can also be seen serving as a court clinician and master scheduler at WCBOO educational events.

David Futey

Vice President

David brings his experience as an educator in various learning environments and a dedication in assisting others to achieve their goals to the WCBOO Education Team. Related to assisting officials with their development, he has been a camp clinician, evaluated, trained, and mentored officials. His participation in WCBOO U has given him a perspective on additional content and rules related questions to enhance the WCBOO U course offerings. He has been a women’s collegiate basketball official for ten years.

Sheri Zappala

Interpreter

Sheri is a women’s collegiate basketball official who is passionate about helping other officials master the rules in her role as WCBOO interpreter and WCBOO U instructor.

Bobbie Pirro

Digital Marketing

Experience is at the forefront of Bobbie’s collegiate officiating career. Always a mentor who enjoys promoting the next generation of officials, she is the go to person when a new official begins this vocation. Bobbie’s work ethic is an example for all officials at all levels of women’s collegiate basketball.

Lauren Dudziak

Interpreter's Team

** Coming Soon **

Chaz Loomis

Interpreter's Team

Chaz is an up-and-coming official and a student of the game on and off the court. His passion for excellence includes teaching and learning. This shines through with his role on the WCBOO Education Team. Chaz hopes to inspire and support the next generation of collegiate women’s basketball officials. He is currently an interpreter for his local board, teaches the new candidates' class and serves as Vice-President on IAABO Board 59.

Fran Mitilieri

Interpreter's Team

Recently named an IAABO Life Member, Fran serves WCBOO as a consultant. She takes every opportunity she can to assist basketball officials and her most outstanding student is Joe Vaszily. Fran officiated USA Basketball, women’s Division I collegiate, as well as boys’ and girls’ high school. Additionally she served as rules interpreter and as the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) in New York City as the Staten Island boys’ and girls’ high school basketball borough supervisor and assignor.

Dave Rafalski

Interpreter's Team

Dave continues to count his Blessings each day throughout his college basketball journey and the opportunities to keep paying-it-forward to those striving to become the best official possible. He works for several NCAA Women’s D1 conferences which he credits to his professionalism, rules knowledge, leadership and his faith. Dave also believes that it’s important to simply enjoy each moment we have in this game, have fun and continue to give back!

Carl Small

Interpreter's Team

Carl is an experienced WCBOO instructor who motivates students by keeping in touch with them 24/7 via various virtual platforms. It’s a challenge to try and “fool the ref” when Carl is at the head of the class. Carl hosts study and text groups - novice officials welcome.

Zoe Young

Interpreter's Team

** Coming Soon **

Scott Berkins

WCBOO U Instructor

Scott is a polished Division I women’s collegiate official who provides insight and candor while breaking down video for officials. Scott is always willing to serve up and coming staff. He has officiated post season tournaments including conference finals, the NIT, and NCAA tournaments.

Rich Fetter

WCBOO U Instructor

Rich is always willing to assist new officials looking to develop and improve their officiating skills on and off the court. He also looks for opportunities to grow the officiating community. He is a Division I women’s collegiate official who has officiated postseason tournaments including conference finals and NCAA tournaments.

Stephanie Barksdale

Education Team

Stephanie is a Division I women’s collegiate official and a true mentor and student of the game. She provides priceless input to the WCBOO education team. Stephanie’s experience at all levels of basketball combined with her patience and enthusiasm benefit any official wishing to improve.

Al Battista

Education Team

You can count on Al to assist in breaking down video during WCBOO’s In Season Series. Al is NBA’s Eastern Regional scout as well as the editor of “The Match Up” online rules community. He looks for officials working at their craft at the grassroots level. Al often speaks about 23 drills for officials which focus on footwork, getting angles, finding the defense and working on signals. He serves as IAABO Board 12 DC rules interpreter.

Tracey Garnett

Education Team

Tracey is passionate about women’s basketball officiating. She excels at motivating others and leads by example. Tracey also serves as a Training Committee member on HCBO (Houston Chapter Basketball Officials) which consists of over 700 officials. She has been instrumental with providing guidance to officials looking to start their officiating career and advance to the next level.

Joe Vaszily

Education Team

WCBOO is blessed to have our education teammate, Joe, who has worked multiple NCAA Division I Women’s Final Fours. Joe provides unparalleled leadership and direction to our growing and diverse education team.