Game Changers: How Campus Recreation Can Power the Future of Officiating

Erik Jaeke currently serves as a Director with Recreation & Wellbeing at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Originally hailing from Colorado, and working professionally in Iowa, Virginia, and Arizona, Erik brings a diverse skillset across all facets of campus recreation to his current role. Erik sits on the NIRSA Services Corporation Board of Directors, the NIRSA Sports Network Board of Directors, and NASO’s Officials’ Development Alliance Board of Directors. Prior to retiring from refereeing in 2023, Erik worked as a collegiate soccer referee in the Big Ten, Big East, Atlantic 10 conferences, and served as NIRSA’s Director of Officials and Director of Competition at their National Collegiate Club Soccer Championships. Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Administration from Fort Lewis College (2006) and a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Drake University (2008).

Mitchell Plumer currentlyserves as the Assistant Director of Student Involvement – Recreation atPresbyterian College in South Carolina. After growing up in Illinois, Mitchellhas worked professionally in West Virginia and South Carolina. In this role, heoversees intramural and club sports programming, facility operations, andstudent development initiatives, including recruiting and training studentstaff officials.

Mitchell has been activelyengaged with NIRSA since 2018 and served as the South Carolina State Directorfrom 2022–2025. He currently serves on the NIRSA Championship Series BasketballWork Team, contributing to tournament planning, official’s development, andoperational support for regional and national basketball championships.Mitchell also supports the NIRSA Foundation Golf Tournament Work Team,assisting with partner outreach and donor engagement.

Outside of campus recreation,Mitchell is an experienced sports official who officiates basketball andvolleyball at the club, high school, and collegiate levels. He officiates forthe South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) and serves as a PAVO-nationally-certifiedvolleyball line judge. Since 2022, he has worked as a line judge for DivisionsI-III across multiple conferences, including the ACC, SEC, Big South, Southern,South Atlantic, and Conference Carolinas. He has also officiated USA Volleyballevents and previously worked with the West Virginia Secondary School ActivitiesCommission (WVSSAC).

Mitchell holds a Bachelor's andMaster's Degree in Sport Management from North Greenville University and WestVirginia University, respectively.

Dana is the first person to serve as NFHS Director of Officiating Services, a role she assumed in August 2021.  Prior to the NFHS, she worked at the New Mexico Activities Association for 25 years, serving as their Commissioner of Officials for 17 years.  In addition to her role with the NFHS, she is past Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Sports Officials and is the current Board Secretary. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Battlefields to Ballfields and is the Board Secretary for Sports Officials Care. Dana received the NFHS Citation for Contributions to Officiating in 2019 and was inducted into the New Mexico Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2022.  She co-hosts an officiating podcast called, “The From A to Zebra Podcast,” with Division I Women’s Basketball Referee, Nate Acosta.  She and her husband, Ed, reside in Lebanon, Indiana.

Goodheart is serving in his 3rd year as the Director of Officials for the Kansas State High School Activities Association in Topeka, Kansas. Prior to Goodheart’s role in the state office has served in various roles as a Recreation Director as well as an Assistant Athletic Director at the Junior College level. He enters his 20>span class="TextRun SCXW199055015 BCX0"> year as a KSHSAA Registered official for basketball as well as serves as an active official for volleyball, football, and softball. From a collegiate perspective, Goodheart is also a collegiate basketball official for about 15 years serving at the levels of NAIA, NJCAA and NCAA level contests throughout Kansas. He has been involved in various sport roles from student manager, equipment manager and even internships with the Kansas City Chiefs and the West Viriginia University. Goodheart has degrees from Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University. 

Assistant Director and Coordinator of Officiating for the Minnesota State High School League with oversight for training and development for 6,000 high school officials. NASO Board Member.  Big Ten football referee. Previously officiated high school and small college basketball, baseball, volleyball, and softball. Girl dad to four beautiful daughters (Johanna, Kara, Macy, Blake) that he shares with an extremely supportive officiating wife of twenty years (Erin). 

Chad Schultz joined the WIAA staff as assistant director on July 15, 2024, overseeing 8-player football, gymnastics, boys and girls lacrosse, and boys and girls tennis, along with Officials Services (licensing, advisory committee, recruiting/retention) and coaches' education and conduct. He brings extensive experience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2013-2024), where he most recently served as Associate Director of Facility Services, contributing to the development of the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center. His earlier UW roles included Assistant Director of Instructional and Inclusive Programs and Coordinator of Competitive Sports, managing Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs. Schultz officiated basketball and football at the high school and collegiate levels. He also officiated wheelchair basketball. Schultz holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from UW-Whitewater (2011) and a master's degree in Education, Higher Education Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013).