BEAVER TOWNSHIP — As you settle in this weekend to watch the NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball Final Four games, pay special attention to the referees’ game attire, most especially between their shoulder blades where an ‘S’ is prominently displayed.

That logo stands for Smitty Officials and Referee Apparel, located in Canton and co-owned since 2007 by former NBA and college basketball referee, and Lowellville native Joe DeRosa and his wife, Patti.

It’s a company that has grown from five employees to its current staff of 20 featuring over 10,000 top of the line products for all men’s and women’s sports, both domestic and internationally.

“We like to say that the ‘S’ is everywhere,” DeRosa told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “Things have definitely grown since COVID, which changed a lot of things for us. When COVID hit, we had a lot of inventory that was being made by our factories overseas so we needed to figure out how we were going to pay for everything when it arrived. Between myself, Patti and our banker, we came up with a plan to make it work and we were able to accomplish that.

“What COVID did was all of my competition at the time didn’t have inventory coming in, so we had everything and our competition did not. Since then, we doubled our sales and over the past three years things have been really good and steady, which was a game changer for us.”

DeRosa, who will turn 69 on April 11, spent six decades as a basketball official, worked for 22 seasons in the NBA – he officiated over 1,500 regular season games, 150 play-off contests and 11 NBA Finals games – also working three decades at the collegiate level where he was selected to officiate multiple national championship games.

He remains one of just two officials – Joe Forte is the other – to be chosen to work the NBA Finals and college basketball’s Final Four, also working the Olympics.

His first-hand knowledge of both the needs and desires of game officials is indisputable, having built his company into the go-to place for all sports officials’ needs.

“It’s because of our reputation,” DeRosa said. “I was fortunate with NCAA men’s and women’s basketball that back in 2019 they changed the style of their shirt. We make all the shirts that you see on TV right in our warehouse. After those styles came out, high school associations across the country have since adopted those shirts, plus we’ve added more associations that want our shirts. Every day something new comes across that people want us to make.

“In Wisconsin, a guy e-mailed me about two weeks ago with an idea. With that idea, we designed some samples and I am just waiting for an answer that will impact 5,000 basketball referees in the state of Wisconsin. That would keep everything that we do rolling.”

From high school leagues to high profile collegiate conferences, Smitty’s makes sure their logos are prominently displayed.

“Everything is consistent,” DeRosa said. “It’s not that we put the logo on the fabric, we design the files of the shirts. Then, we print them and have to press them on a press to get the ink to go onto the fabric. We then get them cut and sewn and that is the process. Our overseas area is growing, too, an area that pops up at least once a month where someone new from Europe or outside the United States wants to buy our products.

“I had a vision, I don’t know if I thought it would end up where it is today, but we are just trying to keep up with the times, making sure that we have quality products and making sure that what we make and sell is what the customers want. For example, we started out with one style of baseball pants in two colors, now offer 30 assorted styles in multiple colors. People ask why we do that and the answer is simple, it’s because people wanted it. You give them options, plus we have the space to hold the inventory and the factory. That really works for us, especially with new products. It just kind of fell into place.”

DeRosa’s son, JB, has followed in his father’s footsteps and is also an NBA referee.

“JB is in his ninth year as an NBA referee and doing great,” DeRosa said. “He just keeps getting better and the greatest thing is that he asks for my input, normally adjusting to it. He has worked playoff games the past six seasons and really works hard.”

One thing different than when DeRosa roamed the 94 by 50 foot NBA court is the league’s new flooring.

“In the NBA, the floor is the same,” he said. “They just changed the design, which generates interest and conversation.”

According to DeRosa, from the 1970’s to now, the men’s and women’s college games as well as the NBA have changed while continuing to evolve.

“The women’s game has obviously grown, especially with the advent of the WNBA and that has created multiple opportunities for a lot of female athletes,” DeRosa said. “Players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, among other recent collegiate stars, didn’t hurt anything and they finally came to a contract agreement so they will make a lot more money than they did before and way more money than when it first started.

“The players in college and NBA are big and strong, very athletic and so much fun to watch. They are the best of the best and you saw that on display this past weekend with teams trying to qualify for the Final Four in Indianapolis this weekend.”

More information on Smitty’s can be obtained at www.smittyapparel.com, or by calling 330-639-4107.

Next Monday, the organization will take a break due to the Easter Holiday, resuming on April 13 when they honor the area’s high school winter team and individual state champions.