During the recent Terry Vaughn Referee Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, NISOA President Gary Huber announced the NISOA Referee of the Week Award will be renamed the “Terry Vaughn NISOA Referee of the Week Award.” The award recognizes NISOA members for outstanding performances on the field as well as their dedication and work off the field supporting the local soccer referee community. Huber explained that, “Terry Vaughn personifies everything that the NISOA Referee of the Week Award recognizes.”

Terry Vaughn
NISOA Hall of Fame Member

Corey Rockwell, Terry Vaughn and Mark Geiger

Terry Vaughn was an MLS Referee for over 15 years and a FIFA International Panel Referee for 9 years. Terry was appointed to numerous CONCACAF and FIFA appointments throughout his international career. His collegiate officiating career spanned over 20 years as a NISOA member, with 15 of those years as a NISOA National Referee. Terry officiated the 2013 Division I Women’s National Championship.

While his on-field achievements and accolades are extremely impressive, his off-field contributions are even more so. 17 years ago, Terry is the founder of the Iowa Referee Academy, which was renamed the “Terry Vaughn Referee Academy” in 2016. On March 2, 2019, the Academy attracted over 500 officials, administrators and referee coaches for an entire day of instruction and presentations from some of the premier members of the soccer officiating community including Mark Geiger and Corey Rockwell.

During his time as a domestic and international referee, Terry’s passion was mentoring referees and helping others by providing guidance and support. Terry was elected to the NISOA Hall of Fame in 2017. The NISOA Executive Board voted unanimously to name the NISOA Referee of the Week Award in his honor last month.