Mike Burton’s storied career spans five decades in an array of stellar programs and services such as forensics, baseball, national boards, and officiating. In addition, he was a master teacher who received the coveted “Golden Apple Award” from channel 9 and PEMCO Insurance for excellence in education.   In June of 2019 he was hired by the NCAA as their first director of division two football officiating overseeing officials nationally.

                                                                                                                 

Mike’s career as a debate coach began in Auburn and concluded at Eastside Catholic. Both programs received national recognition. Below are some of the awards and accomplishments he and his teams received:

 

• 1995 Teacher of the Year for the State of Washington

• National Speech and Debate Hall of Fame (First person from the NW elected)

• 2015 NF High School National Hall of Fame

• 2009 Washington Officials Association Hall of Fame.

• 2009 WIAA Hall of Fame in both officiating and speech and debate

• Five Diamond National Speech and Debate League Coach

• Bruno Jacob Lifetime Award for Service to Forensics Education

• 2014 PLU Alumni of the Year

• 1995 NW NFHS Instructor of the Year

• 2000 National Federation Citation Award Winner for Officiating Excellence

• University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions Hall of Fame

• 2007 National Speech and Debate League “Living Legends Award”

• 2007 Bronx Achievement Award

• 2004 Minnesota Coaches Golden Apple for Excellent in Forensic

• Thirty-six State Championships and Three National Champions in Speech and Debate

 

Mike Shaped policy and program throughout the state and nation with his leadership, service, and expertise. His contributions in forensics and officiating are unprecedented. During his career, he has served in the following capacities:

 

• Executive Board National Speech and Debate League 1996-2000

• WIAA Forensics Committee for 14 years

• National Catholic Forensics League Executive Committee

• Washington Officials Association Executive Board 1985-2007

• WOA Rating and Senior Seminar Chairperson from 2001 to 2011

• 18 year state rules interpreter in football for the WOA/WIAA

• President of the National Federation of Officials in 1998

• Twenty year high school baseball coach (10 assistant and 10 head coach)

• Six play-off baseball teams including a regional semi-finalist

• Nine state championship and five semi-final games in a 36 year football officiating career

• National Championship game in NAIA and two national semi-finals in NCAA in a 25 year  on-field college official

• Supervisor of three National Championship Football Officiating crews for NCAA DIII in 2009, NAIA in 2013 and NCAA DII in 2016

• NIFOA crews have worked 67 play-off games in NCAA and NAIA since 2006

• 61 of his officials have advanced to DI since 2006

• Football Commissioner for the Northwest Intercollegiate Football Officials 1995 to 2019

• NCAA DII Chairperson of the Supervisor’s Rating Committee for play-offs 2018 and 2019  (Member of committee since inception in 2015)

• NCAA National Director of DII Football Officials 2019 to present