GREENWOOD, IN— The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has announced the hiring of Mark Baltz as the next coordinator of football officials. Baltz will replace Larry Snyder, who announced his retirement from the position in November.
Baltz has served as an official in the National Football League since 1989 and has received 21 post-season assignments, including five conference championship games. He is currently working his 24th season as a Head Linesman in the NFL.
Prior to serving as an official in the NFL, Baltz was a major college Referee in the Mid American Conference and served as a Head Linesman in the Big Ten Conference. In five seasons, he received three post-season Bowl assignments.
“We are very fortunate to have hired an individual of Mark Baltz’s extensive background in football officiating. I believe Mark will continue the outstanding tradition of football officiating excellence in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, “ said HCAC Commissioner Chris Ragsdale. “I am confident there will be a very smooth transition from Larry Snyder to Mark Baltz in our HCAC football program.”
Baltz was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and in 2007 became the first recipient of the Indiana Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s Football Official Award.
Aside from football, Baltz is also a distinguished Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) basketball official, officiating 38 sectionals, 25 regionals, eight semi-states and three state finals. In 2005, he was recognized by the IHSAA as the state’s boys basketball Outstanding Official Award recipient, in 2011 was a recipient of the Roy Gardner Award presented by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, and just this week was honored by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame with the Men’s Center Circle Officials Award.
"I am honored to have been selected as the new Coordinator of Football Officials for the HCAC,” Baltz said. “I sincerely and humbly look forward to leading this Staff, following in the large footprints left by Tom Bohlsen, Tom Ransom and Larry Snyder. I look forward to keeping the HCAC at the pinnacle of NCAA Division III football officiating."
Mark is a native of Lancaster, Ohio and a graduate of Ohio University. He has been married to his wife Nicki for 43 years and they have two sons and five grandchildren.