Joe Borgia, Director of Officiating Programs and Development, has been a member of the NBA’s Basketball Operations Department since 1999 where he started as Director of Referee Development. He currently is responsible for the training and development of the officiating staff in the NBA and oversees the officiating staffs in the WNBA and NBA Development League. As head of the NBA Development Program, he also organizes the NBA’s summer referee camps. Borgia prepares interactive plays for the officials’ web site, training tapes, testing materials and assists individual career development needs. Additionally, he continues to play a major role in the writing of the NBA rulebook and casebook.

Borgia began his professional officiating career in 1978 at age 22, when he joined the staff of the New York Pro-Am league. He spent eight years in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and in 1988 was hired to the NBA staff. He officiated 10 seasons before an injury forced him to retire in 1998.

Borgia grew up surrounded by NBA officiating. He is the son of the late Sid Borgia, a legendary referee who officiated in the NBA for 20 years beginning in 1946. Sid Borgia also served as supervisor of officials during the latter years of his career and continued as an observer after retiring.

Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., Borgia currently resides in St. Petersburg, Fla., with his wife Linda, daughter Marisa and son Matthew. He and his family started an instructional basketball league for children in grades 1-8 at Pasadena Community Church. He volunteers for the youth program at the church and for Pinellas County Schools.