ken williamson sec official biography

Ken Williamson

Here is a summary of the publicly-known biography of Ken Williamson (American college football official in the SEC). Note that precise personal details are sparse, so some items remain approximate or based on news reports.

Early life & background

• Ken Williamson is reported to have been born in 1967 in Birmingham, Alabama.
• He grew up in a football-loving community and played football in high school.
• He studied sports management at a local college (exact institution not widely specified) to deepen his knowledge of the rules and game structure.
• He began officiating high school games after his playing days, gradually gaining experience in game-management, rule interpretation, and pressure situations.

Officiating career & rise to prominence

• Williamson progressed from high school officiating into college conferences, eventually joining the SEC officiating roster—one of the most highly scrutinized in NCAA football.
• In the SEC he advanced to the role of crew chief (leading an officiating crew) and was assigned to high-profile matchups, conference championships, and postseason bowls.
• One prominent assignment: he served as the head referee in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl (a College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State Buckeyes and Clemson Tigers) — a game remembered for several controversial calls.

Controversy & suspension

• On October 11, 2025, during a game between the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs, multiple officiating decisions made by Williamson’s crew drew intense criticism.
• After review, the SEC reportedly received 11 complaints against his crew and validated nine of them.
• The result: The conference effectively suspended or removed Ken Williamson from officiating future SEC games (“permanently suspended from SEC games” according to one report).

Legacy & impact

• Williamson had a long tenure and was trusted with important contests, indicating his skill and reputation at many points in his career.
• Yet the controversies at high-stakes games have overshadowed much of his later career, and his removal marks a significant statement from the SEC on officiating accountability.
• For aspiring officials, his career path (from high school games → college → top-level conference) illustrates the progression; conversely, his outcome underscores the high level of scrutiny and pressure in officiating at the top levels of college football.

Gaps & cautions

• Many personal details (exact birth date, early life specifics, educational institutions) are not thoroughly verified in reliable sources—some web biographies may include speculative or unconfirmed info.
• The major source of information about his removal and controversy comes from sport-news outlets and fan sites rather than official SEC announcements.
• As with any official’s biography in sports, some details (particularly about internal evaluations) are not publicly documented