There are clinics that teach mechanics.
There are camps that teach positioning.
Then there are presentations that change the way you think—not just about officiating, but about leadership, relationships, and life.
At the 2026 Crown Refs Skill Development Camp, former NCAA Men’s Division I National Coordinator and two-time Final Four official J.D. Collins delivered one of those presentations.
While communication was the advertised topic, what unfolded was a masterclass on purpose, mentorship, trust, accountability, relationships, professionalism, and servant leadership.
Here are some of the biggest takeaways.
J.D. opened with one simple question:
“What is your why?”
Officials answered:
Love of the game.
The challenge.
Staying in shape.
Growth.
Networking.
Giving back.
Teaching.
Stress relief.
Money.
Every answer had value.
But J.D. challenged everyone to think deeper.
He warned that if money, power, pride, or ego become your primary motivation, you may become successful—but you’ll never become fulfilled.
His message wasn’t that money is bad.
It was that money is a terrible purpose.
Your “why” must be bigger than the paycheck.
One of the strongest statements of the presentation came early.
“You can do anything you want to do in officiating.”
The question isn’t whether it’s possible.
The question is:
How much effort are you willing to invest?
How committed are you?
What sacrifices are you willing to make?
J.D. made it clear that advancement doesn’t happen accidentally.
It happens intentionally.
One story centered around a Big Ten administrator who once thought J.D. was distant and non-relational.
Why?
Because when he arrived at the arena...
He wasn’t there to socialize.
He was there to referee.
His message wasn’t that relationships don’t matter.
His message was that focus comes first.
Too many officials lose opportunities because they lose sight of why they’re there.
One of J.D.’s best lines was incredibly simple.
“Once I blow my whistle, I’m just a communicator.”
The judgment has already been made.
Everything afterward is communication.
With:
Players
Coaches
Partners
Table personnel
Fans
Media
Your personal brand
Every whistle is followed by an opportunity to build—or lose—credibility.
One of the themes repeated throughout the presentation was body language.
Officials often focus on what they’re going to say.
J.D. focused on how they’re saying it.
Volume.
Tone.
Posture.
Eye contact.
Distance.
Even something as simple as standing beside a coach instead of directly in front of them changes the entire conversation.
The best communicators understand that people often respond to your body before they hear your words.
J.D. shared the story of finishing 42nd out of 43 officials in communication during his first Division I season.
One year later...
He finished second.
What changed?
He studied communication.
He read books.
He practiced.
He learned body language.
He learned verbal de-escalation.
He learned when to soften his voice...
…and when to raise it.
Communication became a skill instead of a personality trait.
As officials advance, one mistake becomes common.
They wait for mentors to find them.
J.D.’s advice was the opposite.
Go find the official working where you want to be.
Make the phone call.
Introduce yourself.
Ask questions.
Build relationships.
Nobody is going to accidentally mentor you.
You have to pursue growth.
One of the most memorable stories involved legendary official Jimmy Burr.
At halftime...
Jimmy didn’t tell J.D. what he saw.
He asked:
“What did you think?”
Great mentors don’t simply give answers.
They teach you how to think.
Later, J.D. shared another lesson.
Your mentor should be willing to “rip you raw.”
But after those difficult conversations...
You should still be able to ask:
“We good?”
This became one of the recurring themes of the presentation.
Use it with coaches.
Use it with partners.
Use it with mentors.
Use it with supervisors.
Healthy relationships can survive difficult conversations.
In fact...
Those conversations often strengthen them.
One lesson that resonated with everyone:
As J.D. started receiving Big Ten assignments...
He worked even harder in Horizon League, MAC, Missouri Valley, and Summit League games.
Why?
He never wanted anyone saying he coasted because the assignment wasn’t prestigious enough.
His philosophy:
Your effort should never depend on the logo at center court.
Perhaps the most surprising section centered around...
Keeping your mouth shut.
J.D. shared several stories about information spreading through officiating circles in only days.
His point:
Not everyone you’re talking to is your close friend.
Some are simply acquaintances.
Control what you say.
Control who you tell.
Protect your reputation.
J.D. used one unforgettable story to make three points.
After a bird gets buried under a pile of manure...
A barnyard cat pulls him out and eats him.
The lessons?
Not everyone who dumps on you is your enemy.
Not everyone who pulls you out is your friend.
Sometimes it’s best to keep your mouth shut.
Simple.
Memorable.
Powerful.
One of the most emotional moments came when J.D. described mentor Jim “Boomer” Bane.
For fourteen straight years...
J.D. wrote him a handwritten letter at the end of every season.
Not asking for games.
Simply saying thank you.
Years later...
He discovered every single letter framed on Boomer’s office wall.
That’s the power of genuine relationships.
Perhaps the biggest life lesson of the day.
J.D. challenged officials to become servant leaders.
Absorb chaos. Create calm. Provide hope.
Sometimes that’s on the basketball court.
Sometimes it’s at home.
Sometimes it’s with a friend who’s struggling.
Leadership isn’t always about having the loudest voice.
Sometimes it’s simply standing beside someone when they need you most.
This wasn’t just a presentation about becoming a better referee.
It was about becoming a better leader.
A better communicator.
A better teammate.
A better mentor.
And ultimately...
A better person.
If there’s one message that tied the entire presentation together, it was this:
Your mechanics may get you hired.
Your communication, relationships, character, and leadership will determine how far you go—and how long you stay there.
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