Professional Experience

24 Year Air Force Career (Aug 88 – Aug 12) / Currently employed in the Civil Service at the US Air Force Academy
 

CSBOA

Member since 2016
Area Director – 2024-2026
President – 2026-Current

Officiating Experience

High School: 1995-Current
Fairbanks, AK (1995-1999)
Altus, Lawton, Oklahoma City, Tulsa OK (1999-2016)
Colorado Springs, CO (2016-Current)
Of Note: Final Week Playoff Official in Colorado every eligible season since joining CSBOA
2025/26 – 3A Boys Semi-Final
2024/25 - 5A Girls Quarterfinal / Alternate for 6A Boys Championship
2023/24 - 6A Boys Championship
2022/23 - 5A Boys Semi-Final
2021/22 - 1A Boys Quarter-Final & Consolation
2020/21 – Sat out this season
2019/20 - 3A Boys Quarter-Final
2018/19 – 3A Boys Quarter-Final

College: 1996-Current

Fairbanks, AK (1996-1998) – Assigned several Univ of AK Fairbanks games for three seasons (D-II conf)
Of Note: Assigned three Division I games by Jim Bain for the Top of the World Classic (Nov 98)
Oklahoma and Texas (1999-2016)
Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conf (JuCo) – Eddie Jackson
Great American Conf (D-II) – Eddie Jackson
Sooner Athletic Conf (NAIA) – John Hudson

Of Note:
Eastern Washington v. Wichita State in 2004 (Jim Bain)
2014 National D-II JuCo Championships in Danville, IL (Jim Bain)
Post Season: Assigned several post-season games in varying years for OCAC and SAC
Colorado Springs, CO (2017-Current)
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf (2017-Current) (D-II)
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (2017-Current) (D-III)
AF Prep School / AF Academy JV (2017-Current)

Of Note: SCAC Semi-Finals (the year escapes me, but it was the most recent year that CC hosted the tournament

I started officiating sports back in 1989 when stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.

I started officiating basketball with CSBOA 2008. Currently officiating high school and men's college. I retired from the US Army with 24 years of service.

As many of you know, I am an avid motorcycle rider riding all over the county/Canada to include Alaska 2024. I enjoy the pleasure of being your VP with CSBOA and continually giving back/mentoring to our younger officials.

Married to Jennifer Nelson, 3 kids and now a grandson.

Nick Covella is a veteran official having started his career in California in 1980.  He served as President, Secretary/Treasurer and Instructional Chair in several units. and is currently the California Basketball Officials Association CBOA webmaster providing consulting and technology services for that organization.

Outside of basketball, Nick Covella is the Background Investigator and has held various senior and executive leadership roles in engineering and technology spanning industry verticals including Space and Defense, Entertainment, Audio and Internet Advertising.    He also works with non-profit sports organization providing technology solutions for these organizations. He has also served in various volunteering capacities including AYSO and YMCA Indian/Adventure Guides programs,

Nick Covella attended California State University, Northridge where he earned his undergraduate degree in computer science and later earned his MBA from Pepperdine University.  He resides in Colorado Springs, CO with his lovely wife and clan of Australian Shepherds.  

Bob Lantzy has served as Assignor Coordinator for the Colorado Springs Basketball Officials Association (CSBOA) since 2004, assigning varsity and sub-varsity games for the Black Forest League, Pikes Peak Athletic Conference, and Colorado Springs Metro League, plus sub-varsity games for the Tri-Peaks League, and coordinating middle school assignments for the Black Forest League, Pikes Peak Athletic Conference, and Central Colorado Athletic League.

A CSBOA member since 1987, he has held leadership roles including Member-at-Large (1998–2002) and President/Area Director (2002–2004), and served on Colorado Board 4 staff as Southern Area Regional Director (2005–2007), President-Elect (2007–2009), President (2009–2011), and Past President (2011–2013). He represented IAABO Region 5 (Colorado) from 2014–2023, served as Vice President (2023–2024) and President-Elect (2024–2025), and was elected IAABO President in 2025. In 2020, he was named an IAABO Life Member.

Bob and his wife, Rayetta, have been married since 1992.

Nick Covella is a veteran official having started his career in California in 1980.  He served as President, Secretary/Treasurer and Instructional Chair in several units. and is currently the California Basketball Officials Association CBOA webmaster providing consulting and technology services for that organization.

Outside of basketball, Nick Covella is the Background Investigator and has held various senior and executive leadership roles in engineering and technology spanning industry verticals including Space and Defense, Entertainment, Audio and Internet Advertising.    He also works with non-profit sports organization providing technology solutions for these organizations. He has also served in various volunteering capacities including AYSO and YMCA Indian/Adventure Guides programs,

Nick Covella attended California State University, Northridge where he earned his undergraduate degree in computer science and later earned his MBA from Pepperdine University.  He resides in Colorado Springs, CO with his lovely wife and clan of Australian Shepherds.