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After officiating a record 14 straight NCAA men's championships, Kevin O'Leary has the coaches' trust

by Daniel Malloy, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

A successful game is one in which he isn't noticed.

For lacrosse official Kevin O'Leary, attention is a bad thing. Usually when referees get involved in the action, the game isn't running smoothly.

So the idea of recognition, even for a magazine story, is foreign to O'Leary. But after spending almost two decades as an official and blowing his whistle at a record 14 straight NCAA men's championship weekends, it's too late. NCAA coaches notice when O'Leary is officiating a game because he does it so well.

"Much respect to Kevin, who is by far the model which young referees should be trying to emulate," said Princeton coach Bill Tierney.

"I look up and see him at a game and I feel comfortable that we've got a very qualified official," said Syracuse coach John Desko.

"There's a very small, select group of guys [in whom] you would be confident how they would manage any high-caliber lacrosse game, and Kevin would certainly be on that list," said Virginia coach Dom Starsia.

It's partly a result of his calm temperament and knowledge of the game, essentials for any referee. But what separates O'Leary from the pack is, as a former player and coach at Maryland, he understands lacrosse from all perspectives.