Acknowledgments
At New England College Officiating, we believe that a great game is built on a foundation of dedication, leadership, and integrity. Excellence isn't just about making the right call—it’s about the collective effort of the entire athletic community.
This page is dedicated to recognizing the outstanding achievements, milestones, and prestigious awards earned by the exceptional coaches, players, and officials we work alongside throughout New England.
Coach Brian Baptiste (UMass Dartmouth) - Recipient of the prestigious NABC Hillyard Golden Anniversary Award, honoring his extraordinary 50+ years of dedicated service to the game of basketball. Coach Baptiste currently stands as the winningest active NCAA Division III men's basketball coach in the nation, boasting an incredible 742 career victories.
Coach Jay Lawson (Bentley University) - Honored as the recipient of the Sam Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award for both the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, presented by New England College Officiating and the College Basketball Officials Association (CBOA). Coach Lawson makes history as the only coach to ever receive this prestigious sportsmanship honor in consecutive seasons.
Following a legendary 34-year tenure at the helm of Bentley University, Coach Lawson has announced his retirement. He leaves the sidelines as one of only six active coaches nationally across all NCAA Divisions to surpass 650 career wins. New England College Officiating extends our deepest gratitude and warmest wishes to Coach Lawson for a well-deserved and happy retirement.
Coach Chris Bartley (WPI) - Named the recipient of the 2025–26 Division III Sam Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award, presented jointly by New England College Officiating and the College Basketball Officials Association (CBOA). This distinguished honor celebrates Coach Bartley’s outstanding commitment to sportsmanship, integrity, leadership, and the highest ideals of collegiate athletics.
Mamadou Ba, Chris Devlin, and John Sousa - Earned prestigious selection by the NCAA to officiate the NCAA Division III Elite Eight national championship rounds in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Receiving a national tournament assignment of this caliber is a testament to their elite officiating skills, consistency, and dedication to the game throughout the season. Congratulations to Mamadou, Chris, and John on this tremendous professional milestone.