What's My Why: Official Brady Driver
June 12, 2026
Brady Driver, Sturgis
Driver just completed his 20th year as an MHSAA-registered official. He has worked football, wrestling and boys lacrosse all 20 years, and also officiated basketball for six seasons and volleyball and girls lacrosse for one apiece.
One, the opportunity to continue interacting with athletics, and school districts, and sports, and being part of educational athletics.
Two, the thousands of student-athletes that I get to see grow up in and through sports and then go on to great things in their lives.
And then three, for me, to also be able to have the joy of building lifelong friendships with multiple officials across these three sports, and the opportunities to have been able to travel, in some cases across the United States to officiate, and also meeting some pretty incredible people through the circles of football, wrestling and lacrosse.
I would highly encourage, if you have a desire to stay involved and get the best seat in the house every time, every game, every night, to be an official. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever do.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.
What's My Why
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch
2023 Officials Awards Recognize Nearly 400, Including Norris & Paulson Honorees
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
August 7, 2023
This year's Officials Awards & Alumni Banquet recognized 397 officials who celebrated a milestone year of MHSAA registration during 2022-23, plus honored a highly-respected mentor and a young official with a tremendous future in the avocation.
Longtime Jackson-area official Chuck Walters was named the Vern L. Norris Award honoree for his decades of service not just on the field but recruiting and helping to retain officials. Recent Mackinaw City graduate Madison Smith received the Randy Paulson Legacy Award and has officiated junior varsity basketball and volleyball over the last year as part of the MHSAA Legacy Program.
This year's honorees included 24 officials with 50 years of service, along with 36 officials with 45 years, and a 40-year award has been presented to 51 officials. In addition, 110 officials with 30 years and 176 officials with 20 years of registration were honored.