Marla Denham

Marla Denham is a local Tempe high School graduate who went on to ASU and received a BS in Criminal Justice with a minor in Special Education in 1984, while earning Honor Roll status.

                Marla played four sports and most notably, her 1981 women’s basketball team won the ACCAC Championship.  With the Lady T’Birds, she was team captain, team MVP, All-ACCAC player, and All-Region player. 

                Her involvement with collegiate athletics is well-known.  Since 1999, Marla is the only woman in the country who oversees Division I Men’s Basketball Officiating.  She has also coordinated women’s basketball and volleyball officials since 1996.  From 1988-1997, Marla coordinated ACCAC women’s basketball and volleyball. 

                Marla has also worked in the American Basketball League earning “Official of the Year” in 1998.  In addition to that, she has officiated two World Tournaments as well as Olympic tryouts as a FIBA referee with moth men’s and women’s assignments.  Marla is currently the Coordinator of Officials for the Big Sky Conference, and a retiree of the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department. 

                She has also done extensive work with Northern Arizona University’s Behavioral Habilitation for Young Children with Autism Program.  Since 1985, Marla has been on the frontline in developing and training in basketball and volleyball officials for the AIA, the ACCAC, and the NCAA.  A member of the National Basketball Manual Committee for Men’s Basketball, Marla works closely with the latest regulations and standards of both volleyball and basketball.