The Story about NorCal Sports Officials: Greg Omoto - Owner, Assigner, & Official

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In 2014, longtime coach and official Greg Omoto set out to solve a problem he had seen for decades in youth and adult sports: leagues struggling to find well-trained, dependable officials who understood both the rules and the spirit of the game.

Drawing from nearly a lifetime in athletics, Omoto founded NorCal Sports Officials with a simple mission—provide professional, well-trained officials while mentoring the next generation of sports officials.

The organization began modestly. In its first year, NorCal Sports Officials worked with just one adult baseball league and a single adult baseball tournament. Omoto personally handled much of the scheduling, training, and officiating himself. What the organization lacked in size, however, it made up for with a commitment to professionalism, reliability, and a strong philosophy of officiating.

That philosophy was deeply rooted in Omoto’s own experience in sports, which began when he was still a teenager. In 1978, he began coaching and quickly learned the game from a unique perspective at a young age. During the 1980s, he coached alongside his father, legendary and icon on the Monterey Peninsula, Ben Omoto who had a lasting influence on how Omoto approached athletics.  His father shared a piece of advice that Omoto carried throughout his career:

“If you're going to coach, you need to officiate. And if you're going to officiate, you need to coach.”

The philosophy behind that advice was simple but powerful: to truly understand sports, one should experience every phase of the game—player, coach, and official. Seeing the game from every angle builds perspective, fairness, and respect for everyone involved.

Omoto embraced that philosophy fully. Over the years he built an extensive background in both coaching and officiating. He has coached since 1986, including 22 years as a high school baseball and softball coach, helping develop young athletes both on and off the field. At the same time, he was building his officiating career.

Today, Omoto has more than 40 years of officiating experience, though he often says he considers 35 of those years his “serious” officiating “career”, noting that his first five years came while he was still a teenager learning the craft.

 

One of the highlights of his coaching career came at York High School in Monterey, CA, where Omoto helped revive a program that had disappeared. The girls fastpitch softball program at York had faded away in the 1980s, and Omoto was hired to play a key role in bringing it back.

 

In 1999, he was named Director and Head Coach of Softball, helping rebuild the program and create new opportunities for young female athletes to compete and grow in the sport.

 

Omoto’s success did not go unnoticed, and he was later asked to take over the softball program at Salinas High School, which had not reached the CCS (Central Coast Section) playoffs in over ten years. In 2006, under his leadership, the team made the CCS playoffs—and followed that with playoff appearances for the next three consecutive years. His success did not go unnoticed; Omoto was named the Salinas Californian County Coach of the Year, highlighting his growing reputation as a skilled and impactful coach. 

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One of Greg's proudest moments is knowing that two of his former Salinas High players are now head coaches. Samantha (Rodriguez) Salter leads the girls' softball program at Palma High School, while Emily Montanez serves as the head coach of the women's softball program at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB), previously Emily was Saint Mary’s College Associate Head Coach.

 

Despite these responsibilities, Coach Omoto still found time to coach two traveling teams- the 13u Monterey Bay Rippers Baseball team and the 16u Monterey Bay Rippers Girls Fast Pitch Softball team. He coached both teams for 7 years, continuing to mentor young athletes at the competitive travel level. In 2009, Omoto returned to baseball at the request of his father, who had been involved with the Monterey High Toreadors baseball program for over forty years. He was asked to take on being Head Coach for two teams at Monterey High, the JV and freshman teams, a position he did for 2 years.

Later, after finding a Head Coach for the Freshman team, he remained as the JV Head Coach and assistant Varsity coach for, further cementing his legacy in developing young athletes and shaping successful programs.

 

One of Coach Omoto’s proudest achievements was for twenty consecutive years, from 1999 to 2019, Coach Omoto conducted the Monterey Bay Rippers free baseball and softball workout and conditioning program for student-athletes on the Monterey Peninsula. The purpose of the program was to prepare young athletes for their local youth baseball and softball leagues, while also helping high school players get ready for their respective high school teams.

Student-athletes from Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Alvarez, Notre Dame, Santa Catalina, Palma, Seaside, and Gonzales High Schools participated in the program. Not one cent was ever charged. The only requirement was that each athlete commit to working hard in the conditioning portion of the program and focus on strengthening weaknesses in the individual fundamentals of baseball and softball.

His passion for coaching young athletes and officiating has made him even more appreciative of the rewards that come from both coaching and officiating.

 

By the time he founded NorCal Sports Officials in 2014, Omoto had already spent nearly four decades learning the game from every angle. His experiences as a player, coach and official helped shape the organization’s guiding principles.

Mentorship quickly became a central part of NorCal Sports Officials. Many officials who joined the organization were new to officiating, and Omoto took pride in developing them through training, on-field instruction, and guidance grounded in professionalism and effective game management. One of the challenges he relished with new officials is that he provides equipment for the new officials to borrow as he remembers how much is needed to umpire and the cost behind that.

Several officials he mentored have gone on to work higher-level games and now help train the next generation of officials.

Word quickly spread among leagues and tournament directors that NorCal Sports Officials offered something different—officials who were prepared, professional, and trained to manage games the right way. As demand increased, the organization steadily expanded.

 

From its humble beginning in 2014, NorCal Sports Officials has grown significantly. By 2026, the organization serves 28 youth and adult leagues, providing officials for a variety of sports, including:

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• Adult Men's and Co-Ed Softball

• Baseball

• Basketball

• Youth Boy's & Girl's Flag Football

• Girls Fastpitch Softball

• Soccer

• Volleyball

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What began with one adult baseball league and a single tournament has grown into a trusted officiating organization serving communities throughout Northern California. Not once has NCSO ever reached out to any of the local leagues about assigning his Officials for their games, they all in turn contacted NCSO regarding having their services. That in itself makes Greg Omoto proud to know that his services he provides is based on NCSO's strong reputation among area leagues.

Despite that growth, the foundation of NorCal Sports Officials remains unchanged: train officials properly, mentor the next generation, and uphold the integrity of the game.

For Greg Omoto, the organization represents more than a business—it is the continuation of a lifelong commitment to athletics and the belief that understanding the game from every perspective makes sports better for everyone involved.

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Comments: 

Bradley Strawser - Associate Professor of Philosophy, Defense Analysis Dept, Naval Postgraduate School: "I have been a manager and player in the City of Monterey's 30+ baseball league and served as a Board Member of the Carmel Youth Baseball. Greg is the consummate professional, always works hard to "get the call right" treats all players, coaches and managers with mutual respect, and is in complete control of the games at all times. Greg's experience is vast and extensive. He has been officiating since 1986 but understands the game from a coaching perspective as he started coaching youth baseball in 1980 and a High School Coach for 22 years. His crew follows his smooth disposition and confidence in their work"

Lawton Dodd - Former KSBW TV News Director: " Omoto is readily recognized as the class of area umpires: consistent and knowledgeable whether behind the plate or as the field umpire., he is clearly in control of the action, yet he does so with ease and grace that nurtures a positive, constructive relationship between himself and the players. And unlike many other officials, I have never seen him come even close to losing his cool. Omoto's role in the Monterey Bay area sports community goes beyond the role of being a quality official. His family name runs deep in the local baseball community, and it is clear that Greg recognizes the 'stock in trade" his name carries. 

Christina Lucas - Pebble Beach Company - Human Resources Coordinator: "Greg Omoto has been officiating our annual Pebble Beach Company Softball league for many years. He has been an outstanding official, making fair calls, professional, friendly, and he is known by the players in the community. Our softball league is more enjoyable having Greg officiating our games."

Dr. Dan Hightower - M.D.  "I have had the privilege of working closely with Greg for over 30 years and can attest to his outstanding skills, unwavering dedication, and impeccable character. I have coached with Greg personally, watched Greg coach my daughters, and been in games where Greg has umpired. He calmly and expertly “calls the game as he sees it”. Always fair. Always respectful. Outside of his technical skills, Greg's approachable and friendly demeanor endears him
to those he interacts with. His ability to build positive relationships with athletes, coaches, and fellow officials makes him an asset to any team. His reliability, punctuality, and sense of responsibility further demonstrate his commitment to the role.

My only concern is his loyalty to the Giants. That said, as a Dodger fan, he still treats me with respect!"

Jacob Ahrenstorff - former President of the Seaside Pony Baseball & Softball Leagues - "Greg and his team of officials have been punctual, professional, and great communicators both on and off the field. NCSO have umpired our 
regular season games, local tournament non-sanctioned games, as well as our Pony Baseball sanctioned tournaments. Greg and his team treat each level of play with the upmost professional integrity. Without a doubt they have set the standard for umpiring by displaying great sportsmanship, professionalism, and are always the best agency in my opinion of not just getting the rules right but thoroughly explaining and being transparent in the call that was made so the kids can understand."