Bill Vinovich

Who is Bill Vinovich?

Bill Vinovich is an American football official in the National Football League from 2001-2006 and 2012-, as well as a college basketball official. Vinovich began his career in the NFL as a side judge on the officiating crew headed by referees Dick Hantak and Ed Hochuli before being promoted to referee for the start of the 2004 NFL season after former referee Ron Blum returned to his original position of line judge. Outside of officiating, Vinovich works as a CPA. In the NFL, he wears uniform number 52.

Since joining the NFL, Vinovich has officiated in two divisional playoff games and one wild card playoff game as of the 2012 NFL season.

As a college basketball official, Vinovich officiated a first round contest between Virginia Tech and Illinois in the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament on March 16, 2007. Due to a heart condition, Bill Vinovich retired from field duty following the 2007 season, to serve as the replay official for Ed Hochuli. He was replaced as a referee by former side judge John Parry.

In 2012, doctors gave Vinovich a clean bill of health, and he has returned as a substitute official. On October 14, 2012, he returned to field level action for the first time since 2006, heading Scott Green's crew in Philadelphia. He worked several games during the 2012 NFL season, including the Broncos-Ravens divisional playoff game.