Tweet #theGAC RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference has selected Ryan Cigich to serve as the conference's Supervisor of Soccer Officials, the league office announced on Friday.
 
Cigich, who serves as the national coordinator of NCAA men's and women's soccer officiating, has experience as a referee instructor, evaluator, and administrator for the Major Indoor Soccer League, US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association.
 
"Ryan is a great addition for the GAC," GAC commissioner Will Prewitt said. "He has worked with many of our institutions over the years and has great contacts across the region.  This is another big step forward as the sport develops in the Great American Conference."
 
The Northeastern State graduate worked as a national level referee from 1998 through 2006 and has officiated over 2,000 contests in his career.
 
The Great American Conference grows to seven teams this fall as the league enters its fifth season of NCAA Division II women's soccer.  A men's soccer championship will be contested for the first time in 2015 with Harding, Ouachita Baptist, Oklahoma Baptist, and Southern Nazarene fielding teams.
 
The GAC Women's Soccer Championship will be held November 6-8 at the regular season champion’s home turf.  The Men's Soccer Championship will be contested November 7-9 also on the home field of the regular season titlist.