Cody Little has been named the director of training and video review for the NCAA Softball Umpire Program, bringing with him 12 seasons of umpiring experience and 13 years working in middle school and high school education.
Cody Little
As the director of training and video review, he will provide leadership in the areas of education and training of softball umpires and will support the NCAA's commitment to improving the overall quality and consistency of softball umpiring throughout all three NCAA divisions. The position will assist in helping to promote better and more consistent information of NCAA softball rules, umpiring, interpretations and mechanics, including the continued development and maintenance of the video review process.
"I am honored to be selected as the new director of training and video review for NCAA softball," Little said. "I am excited to use the combination of on-field officiating experiences, experience with video review, and dedication to teaching to contribute to the growth and success of officials across all divisions of NCAA softball. I am committed to creating a supportive community where officials can learn, share experiences and continuously improve to achieve great levels of success we all envision for NCAA softball officiating."
Little umpired in multiple Division I regionals and super regionals and was a Women's College World Series umpire in 2016 and 2017. After deciding to step off the field, he applied for and was selected as a regional advisor for the Softball Umpire Program, a position he has held since January 2022. In that role, he has evaluated and assigned umpires for all three divisions and served as a video review umpire for Division I regionals and the WCWS.
He also brings experience as a Division I conference coordinator of softball umpires, and he has managed, assigned and evaluated umpires at tournaments and camps in the collegiate offseason.
An educator in the Oklahoma City suburb of Mustang, Little served in the various roles of teacher, athletics director and vice principal of the middle school before moving to the high school as vice principal in 2021. His experience as an educator and administrator are vital to this role.
"Cody's background in education, his personal demands to meet timelines and his postseason experience on the field demonstrate the unique blend of qualifications that we're looking for with this position," said Steve McCown, the NCAA softball national coordinator of umpires. "His hire will provide our umpire program with needed growth in our training initiative and a seamless transition for our replay program."
NCAA Managing Director of Championships and Alliances Liz Suscha added: "Cody brings significant experience as an educator and softball umpire to serve as our next director of training and video review. He has been an important and effective part of our softball umpire program team, and we are excited to have him on board in a new role to further develop the overall quality and consistency of softball umpiring."
