East Rutherford, NJ — The New York Giants and Ticketmaster are proud to celebrate high school football officials throughout New York State in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and New York State Association of Certified Football Officials (NYSACFO). Each month during the high school football season, the Giants will honor a different officiating crew of the month to highlight their commitment to their communities and dedication to honesty and objectivity. Thanks to Ticketmaster, each member of the crew will receive tickets to a Giants home game this season. The following officials were named as part of the Giants 2026 September High School Officiating Crew of the Month.
Jim Behan – Line Judge: Jim Behan has been a football official for 24 years, serving as a line judge on the same officiating crew for the past 22 seasons. Throughout his career, he has officiated numerous Nassau County semifinal and championship football games, earning a reputation for consistency and dedication to the sport. For the past 20 years, Jim has served as Secretary of the Long Island Chapter, playing an integral role in virtually every aspect of the organization. His responsibilities have included overseeing bylaws, coordinating candidate classes, leading recruiting and retention efforts, maintaining attendance records and chapter history, managing bookkeeping, and supporting the many other functions that keep the chapter running smoothly. In addition to tackle football, Jim has officiated girls flag football, boys lacrosse, girls field hockey and spent 19 years umpiring softball. His commitment to athletics extends beyond high school sports, as he also officiated youth football and softball for many years. Professionally, Jim retired from the United States Postal Service, where he served as a Postmaster. He also worked for 11 years as a groundskeeper for his local school district.
Matt Kohut – Head Linesman: Matt Kohut has served as a high school official for over 25 years. He has worked every position on the field and has been selected to officiate numerous Nassau County and Long Island Championship games. Matt has been a dedicated leader within the chapter, serving two years as President and currently holding the position of Treasurer. His commitment to officiating excellence extends beyond traditional football, as he is also a highly regarded girls flag football official. Notably, he was one of only eight officials selected to work the inaugural New York State Flag Football Championship Finals. A strong advocate for youth sports, Matt has served as the Football Officials Assignor for the Nassau County Youth Football League for the past 14 years. Matt is equally accomplished on the basketball court, where he is a highly rated Nassau County basketball official who has worked numerous playoff contests, including New York State Championship games. His passion for developing young athletes is further reflected in his coaching experience, having coached travel basketball and travel softball teams both in the past and currently. Professionally, Matt serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Parks and Recreation for the City of Long Beach, New York. He manages city-sponsored sports leagues and has helped provide meaningful athletic and recreational opportunities to countless community members throughout his career. In addition to his contributions to sports and recreation, Matt has volunteered as the Chief Nassau County Lifeguard Certification Examiner since 2001.
Mike Mormino – Back Judge: Mike Mormino's distinguished officiating career has included assignments to numerous county and Long Island championship playoff games, both as a crew member and as a referee. Mike is a past President of the Long Island Chapter, serving for three years after assuming the role when the previous president resigned midterm. During a particularly challenging period in the chapter's history, he provided steady leadership, restored organizational stability, and helped position the association for future success. He currently serves as the chapter's Vice Chair for Girls Flag Football, a role that benefits greatly from his extensive experience in organizing and administering flag football programs. For many years, Mike coordinated both league operations and officiating assignments for the Team Israel National Flag Football League, which operated through Lawrence High School in New York. His efforts provided an important athletic opportunity for students who were unable to participate in interscholastic tackle football. Beyond athletics, Mike also had a career in law enforcement and public service. After beginning his professional journey as a teacher and football coach at Plainedge High School, he joined the New York City Police Department, where he served as a major case detective. His career also included appointments as an FBI Special Agent and as a Special Investigator for the Queens District Attorney's Office. In addition to officiating, he coached youth football in Farmingdale, New York for more than 10 years and served as President of the organization for six years. Today, Mike remains deeply involved in community service. He helps organize and provide security services for American Cancer Society Relay for Life events, which have raised more than $1.5 million for cancer research and patient support programs. Mike is also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, where he holds the rank of Third Degree Knight, and serves as president of his local golf club. In addition, he has generously volunteered as Santa Claus for the Farmingdale Methodist Nursery School's holiday celebration for more than a decade and has served as Golf Tournament Coordinator for Little Steven's Ball, benefiting the NYPD Widows' and Children's Fund.
Frank Sammartano – Referee: Frank Sammartano is a longtime member of the Long Island Chapter and has set the standard as a "white hat" referee for many years. Throughout his officiating career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to both the chapter and the sport of football. Frank is a past President of the Long Island Chapter, serving for more than two years in that role and guiding the organization through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure, he provided steady leadership and was instrumental in helping the chapter navigate complex issues, including providing guidance and stability during a period of disagreement regarding state association-approved changes to officiating uniforms. Prior to serving as President, Frank spent four years on the chapter's Board of Directors. He continues to support the chapter today, serving as Ethics Chairman whenever circumstances require his experience and counsel. Frank's service extends far beyond high school athletics. Earlier in his career, he coached youth football and lacrosse teams in his hometown and played a significant administrative role in both programs. Through his efforts to recruit sponsors and secure community support, he helped strengthen and expand local youth sports opportunities, benefiting countless young athletes. Equally impressive is Frank's longstanding commitment to public service. He is currently one of the Commissioners of the Jericho Volunteer Fire Department and has been a dedicated member of the department for many years, serving in numerous capacities ranging from firefighter to commissioner. His leadership within the fire service has earned widespread respect throughout Nassau County. In addition, Frank currently serves as President of the Nassau County Board of Fire Chiefs, where he works collaboratively with fire service leaders to support public safety initiatives and promote excellence within the county's fire departments. Frank also serves as Commissioner of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Town of Oyster Bay, a role that further reflects his commitment to serving his community and fostering cooperation among local governments and public agencies.
Ed Wallace – Umpire: Ed Wallace has been a football official for more than 20 years, serving in every position on varsity officiating crews. For the past six years, he has served as a "white hat" referee, where his leadership, knowledge of the game, and professionalism have earned the respect of coaches, players, and fellow officials. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Ed has been an invaluable contributor to the Long Island Chapter. For many years, he has supported the Board of Directors through service on numerous committees, performing the behind-the-scenes work that is essential to the chapter's success and day-to-day operations. Ed currently serves as President of the Nassau County Officials Coordinating Council, a role he assumed following the unexpected passing of the organization's previous president. Since taking over, he has provided leadership while representing the interests of the 19 sports officiating associations that serve Nassau County interscholastic athletics. One of his most significant accomplishments was successfully negotiating the current officials' contract, achieving an agreement that satisfied all parties involved and strengthened the relationship between officials and the county's athletic administration. Ed is also a longtime high school and collegiate lacrosse official where he became the President of the High School Lacrosse Officials Association. Ed has also been instrumental in supporting the annual Shootout for Soldiers 24-hour lacrosse event, helping ensure that qualified officials are available for the tournament each year. The event has become a highly successful fundraiser benefiting disabled American military veterans, and his contributions have helped support its continued growth and success. In recognition of his lifelong dedication to athletics and officiating, Ed was inducted into the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame, an honor that reflects the lasting impact he has had on sports and athletic organizations throughout Long Island.
The New York Giants have honored high school football officiating crews of the month for four years and are proud to have had their 2025 High School Football Officiating Crew of the Year selected as the overall crew across all the NFL Clubs last season. Each month of the high school football season, the Giants work with the NYSACFO to identify officials who are deserving of the honor.
"This recognition program has enabled us to retain members, improve our officiating skills, enhance our recruiting efforts, and encourage members to be more involved with their communities," said Tim Arden, Executive Director of NYSACFO.
"The honor of having one of our crews selected as the National 2025 Crew of the Year was a major accomplishment for our association. Thank you to NFHS, the NFL, and especially the New York Giants for the tribute given in support of the critical work that our members do each and every game. The NFHS/NFL Crew of the Month Program has been a tremendous success for our association members." members.
