NBA referee Tre Maddox to visit campus

August 20, 2024

Over the past 13 NBA seasons, Tre Maddox (B.S. ’91) has served as one of 74 elite referees making calls and officiating over 600 regular season games.

Now, Maddox is returning to Dakota State to spend a couple of days on the campus where he was a student athlete in basketball and track and earned a business degree. On Wednesday, August 28, Maddox will give a talk to the DSU community in the Tunheim Classroom Building auditorium at 7 p.m. This presentation is sponsored by the TriBeta Club, and the public is invited to attend.

When Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Andrew Sathoff, and his students learned that Maddox was a DSU alumnus, they were inspired by his accomplishments and dedication.

“We marvel at his path from DSU all the way to the NBA where he is interacting with global superstars, like Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards,” he said.

Sathoff and the students of TriBeta Club connected with the DSU Institutional Advancement Team to coordinate the invitation for Maddox to give a talk for the TriBeta students and DSU community.

During his time at DSU, Maddox formed a friendship with Patricia Ericsson, a former instructor who taught English and technology courses at DSU for over 15 years.

“I first met Tre in the fall when he was a student in one of my classes,” she said. “Tre was an excellent student with an outstanding work ethic.”

Ericsson’s family hosted several basketball players, including Maddox, for Thanksgiving. For the family and Maddox, this developed into a friendship that surpassed his DSU years.

“He became like another son/brother to our family,” she shared. “Tre spent a great deal of time in our home hanging out with our children and making his famous yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Tre became, and still is, a much loved and treasured family member.”

Ericsson saw firsthand Maddox’s work ethic and his ability to set and accomplish goals in college. She found it no surprise when he reached the NBA for refereeing.

“As much fun as it was watching Tre play Trojan basketball, it is an enormous thrill to turn on an NBA game and see him running the court,” she said. “I am filled with happiness when I see him ref and think ‘That man calls me Mom’.”

Maddox will also tour the new athletics facilities while he is in town and plans to attend the annual Ag Bowl game.