Each year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association recognizes a couple of individuals with their Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes an individual’s service over a period of years for MSHSAA, the member schools, and the student-athletes across the state. Last year, they recognized Don Maurer, former boys’ basketball coach and athletic director at MICDS, who had retired as Assistant Executive Director of the state association.
The MSHSAA staff and the Board of Directors, have selected Mark Probst to receive the Distinguished Service Award for this school year. He will be honored at the state basketball tournament in March.
Probst graduated from McBride High School and earned his degree at St. Louis University. He has over 30 years of experience as an official on the high school level and has worked games for over 20 years.
In his days of officiating, Probst had the opportunity to work three MSHSAA Championship games, seven semifinals, and many district, sectional, and quarterfinal contests. His work also earned the MSHSAA Official of the Year in 1998.
Over the past 13 years, Probst has served MSHSAA at the Basketball State Championships as an observer working with the state officials that have worked the Show-Me Showdown.
Photo Credit – Missouri State High School Activities Association
On the local level in St. Louis, Probst has been instrumental in the growth of officiating in basketball by hosting various summer camps and mentoring many young officials that have moved on to officiate at the highest level in both high school and college. He also works with the St. Louis Officials Association with their officials on keeping them up to date on the latest rule changes and other issues that may happen throughout the year.
“Mark Probst has been instrumental to high school and youth sports in the St. Louis area,” stated current SLOA Secretary and official Mike Nolan. “He has made a huge impact on several officials’ careers. Many men and women have seen their officiating careers take off and Probst has played a major role in that. I am lucky to call Mark a mentor and a friend. I can say that I would not be in the position that I am if it was not for his help and support.”
For many years, Probst assigned officials for the St. Louis metro area in football, swimming and diving, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls volleyball, and field hockey. He also served as the secretary of the Suburban Conference for many years before stepping down a few years ago. Probst also has been a major part of the CYC as he oversees all of the officiating programs and clinics that help the younger officials start their careers in officiating at a young age.
Probst also served the student-athletes at Lutheran South in serving as their Athletic Director for many years as he oversaw the Lancers’ successful athletic programs.
As many of you may know, I have been an official in basketball, swimming and diving, and volleyball over the years, and I echo the words that Nolan said. Probst has helped me not only as an official but in my transition to my current position as the AD at Rosati-Kain. He is a mentor and a friend that cares about the kids and the officials that have been under his watch.
Congratulations to Mark Probst on earning one of the highest honors that MSHSAA awards every year.
Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan
