Retired U.S. Army Major General to oversee referees

NEW YORK (Reuters) - In the wake of the National Basketball Association's Tim Donaghy gambling scandal, the league Tuesday named retired U.S. Army Major General Ronald Johnson to a newly created position to oversee referees.

As Senior Vice President for Referee Operations, Johnson will supervise all aspects of the NBA's referee program, including recruiting, training, and work rules enforcement.

The move separates the functions of the referees from the basketball operations.

"Our referees are the best in the world but they never stop striving to improve and Ron has made a career out of getting the very best out of people," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement.

Former NBA referee Donaghy pleaded guilty last August to felony charges of taking cash payoffs from gamblers in exchange for inside information.

The 41-year-old Donaghy, an NBA official for 13 seasons, faces up to 33 months in prison when he is sentenced on July 14. He resigned from the league last July during an FBI investigation into his gambling activities.

Johnson recently retired from active duty as Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 32 years of military service as a combat engineer.

"Although I don't have a basketball background, other than as a lifelong fan, I am confident that my experience as an Army commander and engineer has equipped me to bring leadership and innovation to the NBA's exceptional officiating program," he said.

(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Dave Thompson)