Colin Ashley
CRO Director of Operations
& Associate Assignor

Colin Ashley has served as the Director of Operations for Carolina Referee Organization since 2019. Colin came to CRO with a background in Youth Programing and Staff Development having worked with YMCAs in North Carolina since 2008. In addition to YMCAs Colin has worked as a Volunteer Assistant Coach with Gardner Webb University and coached the GCCSA U18 Boys from 2015-2017 in Shelby, NC.

Colin Graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2013 with a Degree in Psychology. Also a member of the Running’ Bulldogs soccer team from 2009-2013 Colin Served as the Big South Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Chair and was selected to serve on the NCAA Division 1 SAAC where he helped shape rules and policies as a voice for Student Athletes in the NCAA.

As a Referee Colin currently holds his USSF National Assistant Referee License and has been a part of the PRO 2 Non-BU / Talent ID Assistant Referee Assigning Pool for five seasons and has taken part in over 100 combined matches across the USL, NWSL and US Open Cup since 2020. Also holding a USSF Licenses as a Referee Coach, Instructor and Assignor Colin works closely with referees to help them develop and become strong referees and gain skills that will serve them on the field and off.

“I truly believe that skills developed as a referee can be skills that young people take with them far beyond the soccer field. If you’re learning to be confident and take charge of a soccer game as a referee at 14 or 16 years old you can do wonders when you go to college and beyond!”
- Colin Ashley - on his favorite aspect of working with referees