AUSTINTOWN — It’s official: For the past 50 years, John Mung has been a familiar name among every baseball coach, basketball coach (boys and girls), football coach, softball coach and volleyball coach in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, and for good reason.
He is the person responsible for appointing referees for those sports at high school and middle school competitions.
It’s not just the coaching staff who know Mangu well, but also the athletic director, principal, administrators and, of course, the officials themselves.
Mange estimates he has made about 200,000 total umpire appointments during his illustrious career, umpiring 43 schools in three counties, including some in Columbiana County, in six different leagues and an independent league.
“I do it because I love it,” Mann said. “It’s hard work, but I like a challenge.”
Mang, 74, of Austintown, graduated from Cheney High School in 1965. He played on the football team, but laughed that he was just a “dummy tackle.” After attending Youngstown University for two years, Mang enlisted in the Army for two years, serving as a platoon sergeant. He then went on to Youngstown Business College, earning an associate’s degree in 1971.
Mann loved sports and became a certified umpire one year after graduating from high school, earning licenses for football, basketball and baseball (and later softball). He spent 50 years on the field before retiring in 2016.
A humble man who doesn’t like to talk about himself, Mann admits he’s proud of receiving a 50-year service award from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Mann is even more proud of all the men and women he’s helped along the way.
There are currently around 800 umpires working across all the sports Mann officiates, and he knows almost all of them.
“I probably know where about 600 of them work during the day,” Mann laughed. “I’m naturally inquisitive, so getting to know the people who work for me helps me keep a clear head.”
Mann married Cynthia Hackett in 1981 and has five children: Laura, Jacqueline, Katie, John Jr. and Stacey, and 12 grandchildren.
They listen to their parents: John Jr. is a baseball umpire in the NCAA’s top league, and Stacey is a standout who has officiated volleyball under her father for 11 seasons.
“Everyone looks up to my dad,” Stacey said. “I’m very proud of him, not just because he’s my dad, but because I know we’ve all become better officers because of his leadership. He’s a great role model and we all try to follow his example.”
Mann was inducted into the OHSAA and local Curbstone Coaches Association Halls of Fame in 2009. The honors are well-deserved, according to veteran umpires who have worked with Mann over the years, including Greg Patley, who is in his 36th year as an umpire in three different sports.
“John has changed the officiating landscape around here by implementing policies, structures, procedures and interpretations of the rules,” Patley said. “Thanks to John more than anyone else in the Valley, we are by far the best sports officiating team in the state of Ohio.”
Mann also served as commissioner of three high school leagues: the Federal League, the Tri-County League and the Mahoning Valley Conference. His leadership skills extend beyond officiating and are well-regarded.
Pat Parry has been a high school football referee for 30 years and is president of the Trumbull County Football Referees Association. “Years ago, each league had its own referee,” Parry said. “But John’s great leadership has seen them all gradually come under his wing.”
Tanisha Franklin served as the Golden Bears athletic director for the past six years after coaching girls basketball at East High School for 22 seasons, and she has seen Mann from both a coaching and administrative standpoint.
“He’s the godfather of sports around here,” Franklin said, “leading the team and treating every game like it’s his most important game. The students don’t know who he is, but we coaches and ADs know how important he is. He’s a legend.”
Mang estimates he attends at least 200 competitions and 50 conferences a year, and in total, he has attended more than 12,000 high school athletic events throughout his illustrious career.
Pat Montana, a veteran umpire in his 41st year across three sports, admires Mann’s dedication to his hobby. “He never stops working,” Montana said. “I’ve noticed messages on his phone at 2 or 3 in the morning about coordinating his duties. He’s just the best. I don’t know how he does it all.”
When not working in local sports, Mann served in various roles for 34 years, including superintendent of Commercial Intertech in Youngstown and supervisor of the night shift staff at Sam’s Club in Niles. He retired in 2012.
How long will Mann remain the leading authority on sports officiating in the Valley?
“To be honest, it’s hard to say,” Mann said. “As long as I believe I’m still helping officials, my phone will keep ringing and I’ll keep answering the phone.”
There are countless people in this region who don’t want to hear about Mann retiring. “John is the glue that holds it all together,” Northeast 8 Conference Commissioner Rob Conklin said. “I hope he lives forever.”
To suggest a Friday profile, contact Metro Editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com or Features Editor Ashley Fox at afox@tribtoday.com
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