Matt Young was named the Ohio Valley Conference Coordinator of Football Officiating on March 23, 2017.
Young is in charge of recruiting, training and developing the OVC football officials, as well the game selection and assignment and evaluation of those officials and oversight of an officials’ observation program. In 2017 Young oversaw the successful implementation of instant replay in the OVC and the expansion of the staff to include instant replay officials, communicators, and technicians.
Young served as an on-field Ohio Valley Conference official from 2006 through 2016, beginning as a supplemental referee in 2006, and becoming a staff referee in 2007. For his final two years he served as an OVC position chief. Young has worked seven FCS Playoff games, including the 2009 National Championship game between Montana and Villanova played in Chattanooga. In 2011 he was awarded the OVC’s Haley-Heriges Award for Outstanding Officiating. He also served as President of the OVC Football Officials’ Association.
Young has also served as a supplemental referee for the Sun Belt Conference (2011-13), referee in the Mid-South Conference (2004-06), the Arena Football League 2 (2009) and the National Indoor Football League (2006-07). He was named Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Official of the Year in 2006.
In 2017 Young accepted a position on the Board of Directors for the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group. He is also the Coordinator of High School Football Officials for the Northern Kentucky Officials Association of the KHSAA as well as the Coordinator of High School Basketball Officials for the 9th Region Basketball Officials Association of the KHSAA. He has been the Director of Training and Development for the Northern Kentucky Officials Association since 2003 and has been an evaluator for the KHSAA for the state football championships and the Girls Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament.
Young received his bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University in 1994.
He received his Masters of Divinity degree and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He currently serves as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newport, Kentucky. Young also serves as chaplain for the Newport Fire/EMS Department and the Newport Police Department.