Since 1992 Ernie has worked for the GHSA in a number of capacities. First, as a Rules Interpreter for basketball and softball from 1997-2001. He served as a fulltime staff member from 2002-2024 and currently serves as a part-time consultant for the GHSA. During his time with the GHSA he has been the Coordinator of Officiating and a Sport Coordinator for basketball, softball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, golf, track & field, girls’ flag football, and logistics coordinator for multiple state championship events. From 2017-2024 Ernie served as the GHSA Assistant Executive Director.
Prior to joining the GHSA staff, Ernie had an extensive background in coaching at the high school and college levels in Georgia, California and Oklahoma. He also worked in player development in the NFL for 13 years with the Buccaneers, Cardinals, and Jets.
Yarbrough officiated basketball at the high school and college levels for more than 30 years, during which he officiated high school championship games in three states (Oklahoma, California, Georgia). He was selected as the 1995 Naismith High School Basketball Official of the Year in Georgia, and was an official for international exhibition games prior to the start of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Ernie served as the Director of Officiating for the first Women’s Professional Basketball League (ABL) from 1996-99, and currently serves as an officials’ observer for the ACC, SOCON, and Big South.
Ernie has been actively involved in fast pitch softball for more than 50 years as a player, coach and administrator. He currently serves as the Georgia State Commissioner for USA Softball. Ernie was inducted in the Georgia Softball Hall of Fame in 2016 and coached the Gold Medal USA Softball Girls Junior National Team in the 2019 Pan American Games in Columbia, South America.
He was a four-sport letterman at Owasso High School (Oklahoma), and College Division All American football player at the University of San Diego in 1973. During his time with the GHSA he has been awarded the AAASP Aspire Award for contributions to special needs athletes, the GACA Sam Burke Award for his commitment to high school athletics in the state of Georgia, the prestigious NFHS Citation Award for his leadership and contribution to high school athletics, the NFHS National Contributor Award for Officiating, and the NASO Mel Naror for Officiating.
Ernie was born in Alameda, California, raised in Owasso, Oklahoma and was a Vietnam-era veteran while serving in the U.S. Navy. He and his wife Cindy currently reside in Canton, have two children (Shawn and Chelsy) and are the proud grandparents of Hampton.