CLEVELAND – Lone Star Conference soccer referee Tim Debysingh has been named a 2025 Excellence in Officiating Award winner by the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA), it was announced on Tuesday (Aug. 5). The Excellence in Officiating Awards represent a pioneering effort to recognize outstanding referees across NCAA Division II.
 
Debysingh was selected as the South Central Region award recipient. He follows fellow LSC officials Jennifer White (women’s basketball) and Kenny Kelarek (football), who were among the D2 CCA’s inaugural award winners last year.

The Excellence in Officiating Awards, which are presented to one male and one female official in each NCAA Division II Championship Regions, were selected from nominations submitted by conference offices upon recommendations from its league supervisors of officials. Voting was conducted by the commissioners within each of the following regions – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, Southeast, South Central and West – to determine the regional winners. Awards are presented by the gender of the official regardless of the sport officiated.
 
Debysingh has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the advancement of soccer officiating, both within the LSC and on the national stage. He has been refereeing college soccer since 1995, bringing experience, consistency, leadership and excellence to the field.
 
Debysingh has served as President of the North Texas National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association (NISOA), mentoring and developing more than 100 referees with a focus on integrity, professionalism and continuous growth. He currently works as a referee in the LSC and has assisted the LSC Coordinator of Officials as a liaison to the Conference Office for the last five years.
 
An NISOA National Referee for 16 years, Debysingh’s on-field accomplishments are exceptional as he has officiated in nine NCAA Final Four events (four Women’s Division I, four Men’s Division II, two Women’s Division II and one Women’s Division III) and over 80 NCAA postseason matches. Two of the Division II Final Four apperances were for the national championship match as center referee. He has also worked five NJCAA national championship matches and one NAIA national championship game – all as center referee. Debysingh has also officiated in numerous conference tournaments, including the LSC, Conference USA, Southland, and Atlantic Sun.
 
Debysingh’s dedication to soccer is further evidenced by several prestigious honors, including NISOA and Amateur Regional Referee of the Year.
 
In addition to the Excellence in Officiating initiative, the D2 CCA has strategic programs aimed at transforming the landscape of sports officiating and addressing current challenges by creating recognition and recruitment opportunities.

• Officials Appreciation Week acknowledges officials across all sports seasons – fall, winter and spring – highlighting their critical role in maintaining integrity and fair competition.
• Collegiate P2R (Player-to-Ref) Program targets recently graduated student-athletes, helping educate the potential officials about the rewarding opportunities in sports officiating, creating a sustainable pipeline of qualified professionals.

 
These efforts reflect the deep commitment the D2 CCA has in elevating the status of sports officials by creating structured recognition and celebrating those who ensure fair play and maintain the highest level of standards for athletics competitions.
 
D2 CCA Excellence in Officiating  |  2025 Regional Award Recipients
 
Female Recipients

Conference	Name	Sport	Region
CACC	Laura Craft	Volleyball	East
GSC	Jessyca Christopher	Basketball	South
PSAC	Pam Miller	Basketball, Lacrosse, Field Hockey	Atlantic
MIAA	Naomi Omenski	Soccer	Central
CC	Joan Sitterly	Lacrosse	Southeast
GLIAC	Stacey Thomas	Basketball	Midwest

 
Male Recipients

Conference	Name	Sport	Region
LSC	Tim Debysingh	M-W Soccer	South Central
CACC	Dave DeYong	Basketball	East
NSIC	Mike Mudder	Football	Central
PBC	Darion Padgett	Baseball	Southeast
GLIAC	Brian Smith	Volleyball	Midwest
GSC	Nate Starr	Baseball	South
PSAC	Joe Volpe	Baseball	Atlantic

 
LSC’s All-Time D2 CCA Excellence in Officiating Winners
2025     Tim Debysingh (Men’s and Women’s Soccer)
2024     Jennifer White (Women’s Basketball)
              Kenny Kelarek (Football)
 
About D2 CCA: Initiated in 1992 to promote its member conferences and institutions, D2 CCA has made its mark in providing a united front for NCAA Division II athletics. Created after the break-up of the College Division Commissioners Association, the D2 CCA continues to create lines of communication and opportunities for its member conferences. The D2 CCA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 60th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit nacda.com.