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By SETH STASKEY
For the News-Register
In early December, the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference announced Doug Costain as its football commissioner.
Some six months later, Costain is remaining in the role as a commissioner with the OVAC, but he'll be overseeing a different sport.
Costain was formally introduced as the conference's new basketball commissioner, taking over for Ron White, who stepped down last month.
"I would think if you went around the valley and mention my name and officiating, I am more recognized as a basketball guy than a football guy," Costain said. "I am extremely excited to get started and thankful to the OVAC for the opportunity."
With Costain shifting to the basketball role, the OVAC re-opened its search for a football commissioner as of Monday morning.
Costain's passion for basketball and, quite simply, the opportunity won out as it pertained to Costain deciding to shift duties.
"Six months ago, I was under the impression the basketball job would not be available or not come available in the time window I had for how much longer I am going to want to do this kind of thing for," Costain said. "I didn't know what the previous commissioner would do, but when the job opened up, I applied and got the job."
Costain, who becomes the sixth basketball commissioner in OVAC history, hasn't officiated a high school basketball game since 2004, but he's worked 33 consecutive seasons at the collegiate level between Divisions II and III.
"I've worked tournament games in every (conference) I've worked in and I feel like I am on the cutting edge of what's new and coming down the pipe. I want to be able to offer resources to help (officials) who want to advance their careers, which I am totally in favor of. Our goal is to make our officials the best they can be."
Upon receiving official word of his hiring, Costain launched an officiating website (ovbballref.com) and also announced his plans to host a basketball officials camp in conjunction with the 'Shootout in the Valley', which will be held June 18-19 at the Highlands Sports Complex. It is formerly the Wheeling Recreation Shootout with the Wheeling Parks and Recreation Department serving as the host.
"Whether it's new officials or veteran officials, the camp is open to anyone and everyone," Costain said. "We're going to be 1000% committed to training and development of every official," Costain said. "I look at this as an opportunity to lay a foundation."
Costain will be joined at the camp, which will cost $50 to attend, by Wheeling native Tony Chiazza, who works at the Division I level and has received multiple assignments in the last several NCAA Tournaments.
"There are a lot of officials and boards that work in the OVAC and I would love to see them officiate. It makes my job (of assigning) easier when I've seen them referee. There will be representatives from both Ohio and West Virginia and officials, who work in West Virginia, will received credit for two meetings for attending.
"We will be teaching rules, mechanics and philosophies. We need and want people to be there."
The OVAC has signed on to be a sponsor for the officials camp.
"The Executive Board and Executive Director (Dirk DeCoy) recognize the need to invest in officiating," Costain said. "They realize this is a crucial time and are trying to stay on the cutting edge of solving these issues."
As for the football post that Costain is leaving, he feels like it's in good shape as the season is just over three months away.
"I would be remiss if I didn't publicly thank Sam Jones and Ricky Moore, who were my assistants," Costain said. "It's a tough pill to swallow because we had a great team and we got a lot accomplished in a short time. We've received a lot of positive feedback."
According to Costain, the officials' schedules are "basically done."
"We haven't released it yet to the schools or the officials because with all of the moving parts, and out of respect for whomever the OVAC hires, it only made sense to wait.
"The new person, inevitably, will have their name on it, so he or she may want to make changes, additions, subtractions, etc."
Costain, who worked the West Virginia Class AAA state championship game in December, had planned to step away from his football duties as a referee. However, he didn't rule out a return.
Actually, during a recent OVAC Executive Board meeting, the conference amended a former rule that said the commissioner couldn't officiate in his or her sport.
"I still will not do high school basketball," Costain stressed. "But, whoever they select in football, will have the chance to referee as well."