Al Hackney

Steve Virgen

Al Hackney had a rare day off Saturday and he was worried. He’s not

used to sitting down.

The 70-year-old Hackney, a former Newport Harbor High boys

basketball coach, is in his 50th year of officiating and one of the

main reasons he continues to work is to stay in shape.

“This is my first night off in I don’t know how long,” Hackney

said. “I wish I was out working because I know I’m going to gain a

pound sitting on this chair.”

Hackney hasn’t slowed down and he’s not looking to retire any time

soon. He continues to officiate community college football, Division

II and Division III college basketball games and high school

basketball games.

So, just how long will Hackney keep it going?

“Until my legs quit,” Hackney said. “My legs are still good. As

long as they have me, I’ll keep doing it. When my legs hurt and I

can’t beat the fast break, I’ll tell my colleagues I’m going out the

door.”

Hackney said he has remained healthy because he doesn’t drink,

doesn’t smoke and has never done any drugs. He also acquired

discipline in the military, as part of the Marines. It was in the

Marines, in 1954, he became involved with officiating.

“I played football in the Marine Corps and I saw other people

making money for [officiating] and I thought I would try it,” Hackney

said. “I would make $4 or $5 a game. It was one of those things where

you try it and you like it and you stick with it.”

Hackney definitely stuck with it.

By estimation, he has worked 1,085 NCAA Division I basketball

games.

“That’s a lot of basketball,” Hackney said.

He was the first official to receive a retirement ceremony from

the Big West Conference. He retired from officiating Division I games

in 1997 and created many memories along the way. For instance, in

1990, when Hackney worked a college basketball game between UNLV and

Temple in Philadelphia.

Hackney received respect and praise from Temple Coach John Chaney

after the game, yet the admiration was not there from the start.

Hackney whistled Larry Johnson for an offensive foul early in the

first half, but Chaney thought his own player, Mark Macon, was called

for a blocking foul. Angered, Chaney yelled at Hackney, who calmly

told the coach the foul was on Johnson.

Chaney was initially suspicious of the officiating, since the

three-man crew working the game were all Big West referees. But by

the end of the game, Chaney had a different feeling, so much so he

told reporters after the game, “[Hackney] was one of the best

officials you’ll see anywhere.”

Chaney also wrote a letter to John Dangleis, the director of

officials. Hackney still has the letter.

“I will never forget that,” Hackney said.

Hackney officiated in the NCAA tournament twice and also in the

NIT 17 times.

During his off-seasons, Hackney conducts teaching clinics for

youth basketball referees. He also evaluates NCAA basketball

referees.

Hackney coached basketball at Newport for two seasons, 1966-67 and

1967-68. He was also the coach of the first freshman football team at

Newport.

When he was a coach, he usually had plenty to say to the referees,

which makes it a bit ironic he became involved with officiating, he

admitted.

“I think I probably worked the [referees], more than I should

have,” he said.

However, Hackney said he noticed officials who worked very hard

and set out to be one of those tireless workers. Now, if and when he

hears gripes or complaints from fans or coaches, he just turns them

off.

“Don’t have rabbit ears,” Hackney said of focusing on the game.

“You have a job to do, whatever it is you do. You have to show up and

be a professional. You have to work at it. You have to work hard, no

matter what job it is.”