Norcross, Ga. - SSAC Commissioner Kurt Patberg released today that Manuel Ortiz Jr. (Manny) and Ermanno Rossi will handle the duties of the coordination of soccer officials for men's and women's soccer beginning with the 2012 season.

Ortiz Jr., who will hold the role of SSAC Coordinator of Soccer Officials, has a plethora of experience in soccer both as an official and an administrator. He has officiated numerous conferences and national championship opening round events, topped off by seven NCAA Final Fours (Division I thru Division III) and six NAIA National Championships.

Ortiz is very active in National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) as a national assessor, member of the Executive Board, and is the acting national president. Ortiz is currently the supervisor of officials for the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Sun Belt Conference, Southland Conference, Big 12 Conference, the Atlantic Sun Conference and the American Southwest Conference.

Rossi has been a NISOAmember for 23 years and is currently a national assessor. He was one of their national referees from 1996 thru 2007. During this time, Rossi also refereed numerous playoffs in NCAA Division I and II, as well as NAIA and the NJCAA. Included were the NCAA Division I men's finals in 1996 and 1997. Rossi also officiated NCAA Division II and women's NAIA finals.

Rossi has assigning experience with several collegiate conferences, including another NAIA conference. He is the assignor for KJCCC (NJCAA) and the KCAC (NAIA),and the sub assignor for three other conferences; the Sun Belt, Atlantic Sun (NCAA DI) and the Heartland Conference (NCAA DII). Rossi still works on the field at a high level, but will not be working as a center official in the SSAC as he concentrates on assigning officials for the thirteen member institutions that sponsor soccer programs.