Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
Verl Sell, class of 1960, entered the U.S. military following graduation from Sumner High School in 1951. After his military discharge in 1955, he entered Upper Iowa University where he was a letter winner four times in football. He earned his master’s degree at the University of Iowa in 1961 and began teaching physical education that same year in Illinois. He also coached football. In 1965, Sell took over as head football coach and taught at Bloom Township High School, Chicago Heights, Illinois.
Sell, who is being inducted into the UIU Hall of Fame in the officials category, has been a Big Ten basketball referee for the past 23 years. He has also worked as a staff official for the following conferences: Big East, Missouri Valley, Metro, Midwestern Cities Collegiate, Mid-American and Mid-Continent. For the past 20 years he has represented the Big East Conference and the Big Ten Conference as a football official and technical advisor.
Some of the special he has received in his officiating career include: Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii; NIT Championship Game; Football Kickoff Classic; Olympic Select Team; Jones Cup/International Basketball Tournament, Taipei, Taiwan; Suntory Bowl, Tokyo, Japan; and numerous postseason holiday tournament assignments.
He and his wife, Rima, live in Orland Park, Illinois.
