DSU alumnus shares lifelong learning message
October 23, 2024
DSU alumnus and NBA referee Tre Maddox does not consider himself an emotional guy, but when he returned to Madison for the first time in decades, he felt a bit sentimental.
While on campus, Maddox, B.S. (’90), spent time with student-athletes, gave a talk sponsored by DSU’s TriBeta Club, visited the new athletics facilities, and reminisced about his time at Dakota State.
“Some of my favorite memories were playing basketball and participating in track and spending time with the local Ericcson (Dick and Patricia) family. They took me in, and were my family away from home,” Maddox shared.
Attending DSU allowed Maddox to focus on his academic studies as a business major. He later used these skills to start his own commercial cleaning business in Las Vegas, which he ran for 10 years.
“Having that background in business administration helped me start and run my own business successfully for years,” he said.
Maddox had also been refereeing successfully for years. During his time in Madison, he started this side job to earn extra money, inspired by his stepfather, who had done the same thing. Over the years he continued to referee, working his way up from middle and high school refereeing to the collegiate level.
Eventually, Maddox was invited to a D League (now known as the NBA G League) tryout camp and was one of two referees selected from 50 to be hired.
“We worked, trained, got our tutelage, and became professional referees in the D League,” Maddox said. After four years in the D League, he was hired into the NBA.
In sharing his story with an audience, Maddox highlighted that while constant evaluation may be unique to the role of a referee, lifelong learning is not.
“The training is very intense and ongoing,” he explained. “We’re constantly in our rule books, watching film, watching games.”
It’s an ongoing process. In addition to keeping up with rule changes, referees dedicate a lot of time to watching the players, and watching their own work so they can honestly evaluate it after each game they officiate, Maddox shared.
“We’re always watching the game as a referee, and just evolving and always trying to get better.”
He believes that, regardless of what career path one takes, being dedicated lifelong learners will help people stand out from others doing similar work.
“It takes hard work, no matter what it is, to get where you’re trying to go in whatever craft it is that you do,” Maddox said.