Growing up in West Hartford, Connecticut Ed attended both Conard High School and Hall High School. His interest in volleyball began in the Summer of 1969 at Sound View Beach in Old Lyme, Connecticut. “There was a net set up on the sand between two wooden poles. I found myself drawn to the game, even though it was (right back at you) volleyball.” Upon graduating from the University of Hartford in 1979, Ed joined the West Hartford Continuing Education Adult Volleyball program. This proved more organized and in two years he began instructing sessions.
Born out of this experience, in 1986 Ed took over the Hall High School girls’ volleyball program.
In 1990, Ed began his officiating career, while still coaching. Barbara Startup a future Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame Founder and inductee Class of 2011, would prove to be a key mentor with her vast knowledge of the sport. While attending numerous coaching and officiating clinics over the years, Ed credits numerous people for having influenced his career. They include Rick Rowey, Boo Brennan, Joel Dearing, the late Bill McCaffrey, as well as Fran Vandermeer, to name only a few.
Some highlights of Ed’s officiating career include doing lines at the United States Nationals in 1995 located at the Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, as well as being a linesperson for a match between a semblance of the United States Men’s National Volleyball Team vs. the Ukrainian Men’s National Team. Ed reflects “I remember that if I so much as blinked, I missed the play. That’s how fast paced the play was. After that experience, doing lines was a walk in the park!” Moving on to the collegiate level, Ed was a member of the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials also referred as the P.A.V.O.
Being selected to officiate the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference State Tournament Finals is considered to be one our states highest achievements. Ed was selected to officiate the CIAC State Tournament Finals for both girls’ and boys’. Over the years, Ed found himself officiating numerous Juniors Club and AAU Tournaments throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A member of the Connecticut Board of Volleyball Officials since 1990, Ed has participated in the training of new officials and currently enjoys attending both high school and college matches as a spectator and student of the sport. “A good official never stops learning” is Ed’s philosophy. Volleyball today remains one of Ed’s true passions!
