Walt Kean - new SETBOA Officials' Supervisor-Assigner

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TSSAA Hall of Famer Leon Rash has been a central figure in state prep basketball officiating for 45 years as an official, supervisor and/or assigner and now it’s time to pass the ball to a new supervisor-assigner for the greater Chattanooga area.

 

A three-sport letter winner at Bridgeport (Ala.) High School (’64) and a baseball alum of MTSU (’68), Rash will continue as one of three basketball supervisors for Southeast Tennessee Basketball Officials Association (SETBOA) and TSSAA has appointed Walt Kean as the new SETBOA supervisor-assigner.

 

“I have enjoyed being the area’s supervisor-assigner of officials for the past 25 years, but decided at the end of this past season that it was time for TSSAA to appoint someone younger to take job,†said Rash who replaced Cooper Dyer as supervisor-assigner in 1991.

 

 â€œWalt has done a good job as assigner of officials for B-team and middle school games and I feel TSSAA has made an excellent decision in appointing Walt as my successor.â€

 

Rash, Kean and Al Raffo are the three SETBOA supervisors who have the task of providing training for officials and observing their games.

 

“Being an official is not an easy job and one has to have thick skin while on the court, but it is a rewarding job,†Rash said.

 

“Whether you are an official on the court or a supervisor or assigner, these are great ways to stay close to the game of basketball and give back to the sport.â€

 

A graduate of Hixson HS (1991) and UTC (1995), Kean has been an assigner of officials for junior varsity, middle school and elementary school games for the past five years and was an official for the past 15 years, working state tournaments in 2007 and 2014.

 

“I am honored and blessed to be following a legend such as Leon Rash as supervisor-assigner,†said Kean who had his officiating start in local church leagues.

 

“I enjoy investing in the lives of other officials and this is a great way to give back to the sport. Leon has been a great mentor to me in preparing me for this position.â€

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

 

story is also posted on chattanoogan.com