For the second time in less than a year, a former Tar Heel big man has passed away far too soon.
The Milwaukee Bucks announced on Thursday evening that their G-League assistant head coach and former Tar Heel Joe Wolf has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 59.
Wolf spent the 37 years of his life on a college or professional basketball court, starting with his career in Chapel Hill. He was a part of Dean Smith’s squads from 1983-87, starting for each of his final three seasons on campus. The high school Parade All-American started his career as a contributor off the bench in 1983-84, averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game for the team in 13.7 minutes per game. As a sophomore, Wolf became a starter, averaging 9.1 points and 5.3 points per game in 30.5 minutes. Despite playing less minutes in his final two seasons with the program, his production continued trending up, peaking in his senior season where he averaged 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game on his way to earning All-ACC honors and eventually all-tourney honors in the 1987 ACC Tournament.
Following the conclusion of his college career in the 1987 Elite 8, Wolf set his sights on the NBA Draft. He was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that he would spend the first three years of his career with. Following his departure from the Clippers in 1990, Wolf would become a journeyman in the league, bouncing around to Denver, Boston, Portland, Charlotte, Orlando and Milwaukee never spending more than two years with an organization. He would close out his NBA career in 1998-99 with the Charlotte Hornets, finishing his career averaging 4.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 42.3% from the field in 16.3 minutes per game.
Following his retirement from the NBA, Wolf would get into coaching, starting as an assistant at William & Mary in 2003. He would leave in 2004 to become the head coach of the Utah Jazz G-League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, where he would coach for two seasons before taking over as the head coach of the Colorado 14ers, an affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks. In 2008, he would join Scott Skiles' staff with the Milwaukee Bucks where he would spend the next five years close to his childhood hometown in Kohler, WI. He was hired before the 2014-15 season as an assistant to Lionel Hollins and would spend three years there. Following his departure from Brooklyn, Wolf headed to UNC-Wilmington where he would be a part of C.B. McGrath’s initial staff. Following that season, he was offered the head coaching position of the Charlotte Hornets G-League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm and he would jump on it. He spent the next three years in that role before not the organization decided not to extend him. After a few years off, Wolf resurfaced as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, a position that he held until his passing.
Join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Wolf during these difficult times.
The Four Corners Podcast:
RIP Big Guy. You were a True Blue Tar Heel. Enjoyed watching you play 4 years. You will be remembered.