College Football
Alberto Riveron is the new ACC officiating boss
Alberto Riveron is hired to supervise ACC football officials.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has appointed former NFL official and senior vice president of officiating, Alberto Riveron, to be the next ACC supervisor of officials. Riveron replaces the retired Dennis Hennigan.
Riveron will oversee the ACC football officiating staff, replay officials, communicators and the ACC’s Football Officiating Alliance, which includes the American Athletic Conference
A 30-year officiating veteran (on and off the field), Riveron worked college football in the Big East and Conference USA from 1990-2003. He joined the NFL in 2004 as a side judge and became a referee in 2007. He wore number 57 his entire career. He worked a total of five NFL playoff assignments on the field — two as a side judge. He worked one wild card game, three divisional playoff games, and he was the referee for the 2011 AFC Championship Game.
Riveron left the field after the 2012 season to be Dean Blandino’s assistant in the NFL officiating office. When Blandino left the NFL for Fox Sports, Riveron became the senior vice president of officiating from 2017 – 2020. His tenure included some rocky moments as the NFL made pass interference reviewable in 2019 which was an impossible situation. Whether fans agreed with the officials’ calls or not, Riveron worked to be as transparent as possible with the public, explaining calls on the NFL’s social media and other outlets.
In an ACC news release, Riveron commented, “To have a chance to work with an extremely talented group of officials and serve the outstanding schools in the ACC and the student-athletes of our league is a challenge I am really looking forward to.”
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips added, “Al’s experience in both the collegiate and professional ranks will serve the league, our schools and officials well.” A search committee — which included current NFL referee (and former ACC referee) Brad Allen — recommended Riveron to Phillips.
Riveron lives in Miami and his family moved to the United States from Cuba when he was five years old.
