January_February_2024_Sportorials

IAABO Sportorials

6

Kirck Family Leaves its Mark on CT Sports Community as Referees, Coaches and Players

HAMDEN —When Steve Kirck was a boys basketball official on New Haven Board 10, he would often bring his two sons, Steve II and Jason, along to his games. Being the son of a referee when spectators sitting in the stands don’t realize he is your dad led to both boys hearing him called just about everything in the book at basketball games. “I have very specific memories of going to games and they don’t know who you are and you are in the bleachers and you can hear what people are saying to the refs,” Jason Kirck said. “It was an interesting experience as a kid hearing people say awful things to my dad.”

“I like to be able to follow in my sisters footsteps,” JJ said. “I like being at practice with Meghan. I just wish I was one year ahead so we could have had practice with all four of us. I enjoy being around my family so much. “It puts some pressure on you (being a Kirck) but I feel like it fuels your fire and makes you want to show more of what you can do to prove that you belong out there and it’s not just because of your name.”

Brendan and Ally Kirck both grew up watching their father Steve II referee just like their grandpa. Steve II started officiating to earn extra money in college and never stopped. He referees approximately 20 college basketball games every season and 15-20 high school boys games. He also got to see Brendan when he was a pitcher at Springfield College and playing for the New Britain Bees in the Futures League. Ally is now a senior outfielder at Lasell University. Steve II is preparing himself for one last season as a sports dad, and said he is not looking forward to it being over. Ally played softball, basketball and volleyball at SHA. Steve Sr. said it is easier to watch Steve II referee than watch Jason coach. Jason said having referees and a coach in the same family leads to some interesting conversations “It gives you a unique perspective,” Jason Kirck said. “When something happens in a game I can call my father or my brother and discuss it. Sometimes the refs are right, sometimes I’m right. There’s been some spirited conversations for sure.” The 2013 CIAC Class L boys basketball championship game at

left to right, JJ, Meghan, Jason and Steve Kirck Sr. (photo courtesy of Scott Ericson/Hearst Connecticut Media).

The experience led Steve II and Jason down different paths, one as an official and one as a coach. But both developed a passion for sports forged through their father and passed down to their own children. “I remember being 7-years old and at a game by myself. He would say ‘Jay, I’ll see you after the game,’” said Jason Kirck, coach of the Sacred Heart Academy girls basketball team. “I developed a love of sports through my family and being around it all the time. That’s a big family thing for us.” Those who have been around sports in Connecticut, and especially New Haven County over the past four decades, are likely familiar with the Kirck family. Steve Kirck Sr., 76, is a longtime college and high school boys basketball and football referee ; Steve II, 54, who is currently a referee on New Haven’s Board 10 and for men’s college games; Jason, 50, is the head coach of the No. 2 ranked girls team in the state, Sacred Heart Academy; Steve II’s kids Brendan and Ally and Jason’s daughters Emma, Meghan and JJ are all local athletes. “It’s really an honor to be a Kirck,” said Meghan Kirck, a senior starting guard for second-ranked SHA. “The Kirck name in sports is very popular in Connecticut. I love being a part of it and I am so lucky I grew up in this family playing sports.” Steve Kirck Sr., a 1964 Notre Dame-West Haven graduate, spent 40 years as a Board 10 high school official in New Haven, refereed college football for 30 years at the FBS and Division I-AA level, and college basketball for 25 years. He is now the assignor for Timing Is Everything, which supplies game clock, shot clock and scoreboard operators at many different collegiate sporting events, like football, soccer, lacrosse and basketball as well as to most CIAC state championships. Timing is Everything provides clock operators for nearly every college in Connecticut, including UConn women’s and men’s basketball. According to Steve Sr., Jason went to his first basketball game when he was 7-days old during Steve Sr.’s brief coaching career at Lady of Victory Middle School in West Haven. The next generation also grew up in gymnasiums with Emma, Meghan and JJ watching Jason coach at Staples, where he was named head coach of the boys team at age 22, then as an assistant at NDWH and, finally, since he took over at SHA six years ago. Meghan is a senior on the SHA basketball team and JJ is a freshman on the volleyball, basketball and lacrosse teams. Emma graduated last year from SHA and is now on the basketball team at Middlebury.

Mohegan Sun Arena between Woodstock Academy and Trinity Catholic was the first state championship assignment for Steve II and the final for Steve Sr. The two found out a few days prior to the Steve Kirck Sr and Steve Kirck II after the 2013 Class L championship game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville along with Jason, Brendan, Ally, Emma, Meghan and JJ Kirck (photo courtesy of Kris Kirck). (continued next page)