After 11 years as the NCAA national coordinator of baseball umpires, George M. Drouches will step down at the end of the 2025 baseball season.
Drouches’ NCAA relationship spans more than two decades. Before his time as national coordinator, Drouches spent 10 years as the Division III coordinator of umpires.
Drouches, 68, recently retired after 35 years in private business. He spent a number of years as a high school teacher and coach and also served as the head coach for both men’s basketball and baseball at his alma mater, Saint Mary’s (Minnesota). Drouches is also a member of the athletics halls of fame at both Saint Mary’s and Minneapolis DeLaSalle High School.
In addition to his work in college baseball, Drouches spent 15 years as men’s and women’s basketball supervisor of officials for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He also spent 17 years as chief executive officer for a 200-member umpire association working with college, high school, amateur and American Legion baseball.
Drouches’ sports officiating career spans over 40 years as a college football official, 35 years as a college basketball official and 25 years as a college baseball umpire.
“It has been my humble privilege and honor to serve NCAA college baseball and the coaching and officiating communities in this role as NCAA national coordinator of baseball umpires over the last 11 years,” Drouches said.
“It is time for someone else to bring new focus, energy and passion to this leadership role. NCAA baseball and the NCAA baseball umpire program have never been in a better place, but there is still more work to do. I look forward to finishing my tenure as the national coordinator this summer.”
Randy L. Buhr, NCAA director of championships and alliances, praised Drouches’ work with college baseball.
“George has done an exceptional job as the national coordinator of umpires for Division I baseball for over a decade,” Buhr said. “His service to college baseball and the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship has been the gold standard. George has been a trusted and respected colleague for umpires, conference umpire coordinators, administrators and the entire baseball community, not to mention for me personally. We will miss his leadership and dedication to advancing umpiring nationally, and we wish him nothing but the best.”
A national search for Drouches’ replacement will begin soon.
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