Donnie Souders has been named the NCAA Division III women's basketball national coordinator of officials, bringing 33 seasons of officiating experience to the position.
Donnie Souders
As the national coordinator, he will provide national leadership in the areas of selecting officials for the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship, education, training, recruitment, and the retention of Division III women's basketball officials. Souders succeeds Mary Toberman, who recently stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
"I am honored to be selected to the position of NCAA Division III women's basketball officiating coordinator," Souders said. "I am excited to bring my officiating experience and my passion for basketball officiating to my new role. I am eager to continue the work of my predecessor in developing our officials at the DIII level, as well as building a strong foundation for future women's basketball officials."
Souders has served as a Division II and III women's basketball official since 2001. He has been an NCAA Division III tournament official five times, most recently officiating a semifinal game in 2023.
"Donnie's longevity serving as a women's college basketball official, as well as his extensive background in assigning and mentoring officials, make him an ideal candidate for this position," said Bethany Dannelly, chair of the Division III Women's Basketball Committee and associate athletics director at Washington and Lee. "Donnie has a vision for the recruitment and retention of officials, which will be supported and enhanced by his contagious energy and drive for excellence."
Souders has officiated high school basketball at the tournament level and has served as a high school officials assignor since 1996. He also has been a leader in the training and development of officials and has worked as an observer for high school chapters in Maryland.
"Donnie is uniquely equipped to serve in this role and has passion for Division III and officiating education," said Penny Davis, the NCAA national coordinator for women's basketball officials. "I expect Donnie to pick up where Mary Toberman left off and to have a positive impact on officiating at the Division III level."
NCAA Vice President of Women's Basketball Lynn Holzman added: "Donnie has passion for officiating and understands the important role officiating has as an integral part of the Division III women's basketball championship and student-athlete experience. He is committed to being a leader within our national officiating program as we train and develop women's basketball officials to better serve our game."
