Veteran New York Soccer Official Ernie Constantine Brings Global Experience to U.S. Basketball

CrownRefs supports Constantine as he builds confidence and mechanics in basketball officiating.

January 28, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on January 27, 2026

Veteran New York sports official Ernie Constantine continues to expand his impact across athletics as he brings more than two decades of elite soccer officiating experience into U.S. basketball.

Now based in Briarcliff Manor, New York, Constantine represents a new generation of multi-sport officials who blend global perspective with local dedication.

A Bethpage, New York native and St. Dominic High School alumnus, Constantine built a distinguished 20-plus-year career in soccer officiating.

He served as a National Referee with the U.S. Soccer Federation from 2003 to 2026, working at the highest domestic levels, including the Big East and the American Athletic Conference, while also officiating professionally for more than a decade.

His career extended overseas as well, as he spent three years refereeing in England under The Football Association, gaining valuable international experience and exposure to diverse officiating styles.

In recent years, Constantine has turned his attention to basketball, where he now enters his second year as an official and his first season working at the varsity level.

He actively applies the discipline, game management, and decision-making skills developed on soccer’s biggest stages to the fast-paced demands of basketball.

Constantine recently joined CrownRefs, based in Briarcliff Manor, becoming the 42nd official from New York to join the organization’s growing community.

He credits CrownRefs with helping him strengthen his basketball foundation, particularly in signaling and mechanics, while building confidence as he advances in the sport.

Constantine has expressed excitement about leveraging his extensive officiating background to see how far this new basketball journey can take him.

Beyond the court and field, Constantine maintains a successful professional career in finance.

He currently serves as Co-Head of Operations at Saba Capital Management, L.P., following more than a decade at Balyasny Asset Management, where he held multiple senior leadership roles in macro and credit operations in both New York and London.

A graduate of Ursinus College with a degree in business and economics, Constantine exemplifies balance between elite sports officiating and high-level professional leadership.

As he continues to grow within U.S. basketball, Ernie Constantine brings with him a rare blend of international officiating experience, professional expertise, and a commitment to continuous improvement—qualities that position him as a respected and influential presence in the evolving landscape of American sports officiating.

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