Born | New Jersey, United States | December 3, 1987||
---|---|---|---|
Other occupation | Musician | ||
Domestic | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2009–2022 | NCAA | Referee | |
2013–2017 | United Soccer League | Referee | |
2014–2017 | NASL | Referee | |
2017–2023 | Major League Soccer | VAR | |
2017–2023 | Major League Soccer | Referee | |
2023– | English Football League | Referee | |
2024– | Premier League | VAR | |
International | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2022 | CONCACAF | Referee |
Alex Chilowicz (born December 3, 1987) is an American association football referee working in the English Football League since 2023. [1] He was previously employed by PRO and officiated in Major League Soccer (MLS) between 2017 and 2023. [2]
In 2014, Chilowicz was named Referee of the Year by the New Jersey Soccer Association. [3]
Chilowicz officiated college soccer for many years, beginning as early as 2009 [4] until as late as 2022. [5] He was the referee for a round of 16 match between USC and Utah in the 2016 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament. [6]
Chilowicz debuted as a referee in Major League Soccer on August 19, 2017, taking charge of a match between the Colorado Rapids and D.C. United in Commerce City. In a career spanning seven seasons, Chilowicz was the referee for 106 regular-season MLS matches and served as VAR for 62 regular-season matches. He was the VAR for the 2018 MLS All-Star Game and fourth official for MLS Cup 2020. [2]
In May 2022, Chilowicz refereed at the 2022 Caribbean Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. [7] [8] On June 10, 2022, Chilowicz refereed his first competitive match between senior national teams, taking charge of a CONCACAF Nations League B match between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago in Arnos Vale. [9] [10]
Following the 2023 Major League Soccer season, the English Football League announced that Chilowicz had relocated to England and would become a National Group official. [1] On December 23, 2023, he became one of the first non-British referees to take charge of a Football League match, refereeing a League Two fixture between Sutton United and Mansfield Town. [11] [a] On April 1, 2024, Chilowicz refereed his first EFL Championship match, a 2–1 win for Rotherham United against Millwall at New York Stadium. [12]
On August 27, 2024, Chilowicz refereed his first match at a Premier League stadium when he took charge of the EFL Cup tie between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crawley Town. The match was marked by a controversial incident early in the game, when a challenge by Jay Williams on Brighton's Matt O'Riley resulted in a serious injury for O'Riley. Chilowicz was criticized for not booking or sending off Williams for the foul. [13]
Chilowicz has received praise from Steve Evans for his decision-making and communication skills. [14]
Chilowicz was raised in Wayne, New Jersey, and played soccer at Wayne Hills High School, graduating in 2006. [15] [16] His father Dan is a former teacher and soccer coach at Clifton High School. [15] [17] [18]
Chilowicz attended the Jazz Studies program at William Paterson University and the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University–Newark. [19] [20] He plays the saxophone. [20] Outside of refereeing, Chilowicz works as a musician, with credits in television and film as well as on Broadway. [21]
Lembryk, a 1987 Clifton graduate, replaces Dan Chilowicz who, in the last three years, led the Mustangs to a Passaic County title and an NNJIL divisional title.
Among her favorite teachers were Dan Chilowicz, who taught honors and AP Chemistry.