Like many college seniors, Jeff Hines finds himself at a crossroad and has to figure out his life beyond his playing career.

The senior center on the NAU football team has a lot of passions but is having a hard time figuring exactly what he wants to do after graduation. For Hines, there's just too much to choose from.

"I've heard everything under the sun from him," fellow lineman Anthony Williams said. "From officiating, to being a cook, to moving to California and living in the desert -- I don't know, the guy's all over the place. He's got a new idea, a way to make money every day."

Realistically though, Hines is focused on a football career beyond his playing days, though he's at odds between becoming a referee, like his father, or, becoming a coach.

Fortunately, the people around Hines are offering him insight as to what he should pursue.

"I definitely think he'd be biased to the offensive line (as a referee), no question whatsoever," Lumberjacks offensive line coach Eric Reid said. "There would be very few holding calls in that situation."

Reid, though, also recognizes the benefits of having one of his former players dressed in the black and white stripes.

"I'd like to see him be a ref, so maybe one day when I'm coaching and he's reffing, he'll give me a few calls," Reid said, half-jokingly.

Still, Reid knows his pupil is already following the path of teaching young men how to play football.

"He's a great coach right now, he coaches the younger guys and is a leader on the field," Reid said. "The move from being an offensive center to a coach is a natural one."

Jeff's dad, Art, who refereed for 30 years, including 10 in the Pac-10 and seven in the Big Sky conferences, hopes his son cuts his own path. Refs have to have another job and one that allows them to officiate part-time. All too often, Art Hines has seen guys never move up the ranks because they're tied down to their day job.

"I'd rather see him go into coaching, honestly," he said. "He could have a lot more fun teaching kids."

Besides, for all of Jeff's football knowledge, he's better suited for the coaching path.

"I think he's so smart, it's unbelievable. He knows the game so well," Art Hines said, though he took some credit for imparting that knowledge after all the years of watching games together.

That's part of the reason why Jeff considered being like his father in the first place. Some of his best childhood memories are from watching his father on the field and that helped start the idea of becoming an official.

"I'm not a fan of referees, really, but it was always fun seeing him out there and he always had fun," Jeff said. "I've watched 100 games with him and he's taught me everything so I thought I'd be good at it."

As of late, though, Hines is having his doubts.

Since he entered his senior year and became more of a leader among the Jacks, Hines is starting to sway.

"I really like helping out the young guys, so that's maybe why I'd like to go toward coaching," the Mesa native said.

No matter what Jeff decides, though, his coaches, friends and family know he's capable of succeeding in either path.

"He's very vocal and doesn't take (stuff) from anybody. He puts down his law and that's the way it is," Williams said. "Jeff's got the ability to do whatever he pretty much wants. Whatever he sets his heart on, he'll do it and he'll do it well."

Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.