CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has announced the appointment of Sean Johnston as the new Baseball Umpire Coordinator. This announcement introduces Johnston to the conference community and highlights his extensive background in baseball umpiring.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sean Johnston as the A-R-C's new Coordinator of Baseball Umpires," said Marie Stroman, A-R-C Commissioner. "Sean’s dedication to education and development for umpires is second to none. His background as both an educator and a coach gives him a unique perspective—he understands how to teach, mentor, and inspire others to reach their full potential. Sean’s experience working with other collegiate conferences will ensure a smooth transition and bring fresh ideas to our programs. We look forward to the positive impact he will have on our umpires and the entire A-R-C baseball community.”
 
Johnston began his journey in baseball umpiring at the age of 13. His passion for the game and the life lessons it imparts led him to pursue a career in the field. Johnston progressed to the high school umpiring ranks in 2002 and transitioned to the college level in 2005. By 2013, he had taken on the role of supervising college umpires at the NAIA level. Currently, he supervises umpires across NCAA Division III, NAIA, and JUCO levels.
 
Johnston expressed enthusiasm about his new role, stating that he is "most excited to be part of the growth of the baseball programs in the conference and create new lifelong relationships with coaches, administrators, and umpires." He is eager to engage with the rich traditions of the A-R-C, which boasts over a century of history, and looks forward to visiting member institutions and learning about their unique traditions.
 
Residing in Bennington, Nebraska, Johnston is a full-time sports official administrator and an active official in football, basketball, and baseball at various levels, from youth to college. He is married to Amber, and they have two children, SJ and Alexis.
 
For those interested in joining the ranks of college umpires in the A-R-C, Johnston is committed to recruiting, training, educating, and assigning sports officials. He encourages aspiring umpires to contact him directly at st_rita1920@yahoo.com and to begin their education through his YouTube channel, "Timeout with PSOA."
 
"We cannot all be major league umpires, but we can all be major league people in the A-R-C," added Johnston. He also extended his gratitude to Marie Stroman for entrusting him with this significant role and expressed his anticipation for the 2026 season.