2026 John Smoot
John Smoot has dedicated more than four decades to football officiating and leadership, serving the game at the high school, collegiate and national championship levels. His career reflects not only excellence on the field, but a deep commitment to mentoring officials and strengthening the profession.
Smoot worked on the field in the Ohio Valley Conference from 2002 to 2017, serving as a Line Judge and position chief before moving into a replay official role. During his time with the OVC, he worked multiple Division I FCS playoff games and was part of the OVC crew that officiated the 2009 FCS National Championship Game. He has also worked multiple NAIA national championship games as a replay official.
Beyond his own assignments, Smoot has played an important role in developing other officials. He has supervised, hired, trained and evaluated football officials for the Mid-South Conference and has served as Coordinator of Football Officials for the Gulf South Conference. His work has helped shape officiating crews across multiple levels of the game, leaving a legacy defined by service, leadership and a commitment to doing the job the right way.