Dave Cutaia was named the Pacific 10 Conference coordinator for football officiating yesterday.

Cutaia succeeds Verle Sorgen, who retired last month after 21 years in the position. Sorgen will still oversee the Pac-10’s instant-replay system, entering its second year in 2007.

The system was the subject of controversy following Oregon’s 34-33 victory over Oklahoma in September.

During the game’s final two minutes, officials mistakenly awarded the Ducks possession on an onside kick. The blown call helped Oregon score two touchdowns in the last 72 seconds to win.

The Pac-10 reprimanded the officials involved, and the errors were later attributed in part to inadequate video equipment, which Sorgen pledged will improve.

Cutaia has been a Pac-10 official for 24 years, the last six as a referee. He has been chief of police in Martinez, Calif., for the past eight years and will step down from that position in December.