Page 50 - Greet HWY 68 Loop 03.25

SPORTS & ATHLETICS
Coaching for Life: Greg Wolf
LET’S CHEER FOR all the coaches out
there. They don’t get their due respect.
I give total respect to four-year loop
resident Greg Wolf, who has given his
time willingly to coach various high
school teams for 43 years. Let that sink
in. Forty-three years of late afternoon
practices and night games to help
students improve in both their chosen
sport and in their lives.
Greg was invited to coach
basketball at his alma mater,
Westmont High School in San Jose,
in the 1981-1982 season and has never
stopped coaching. His dedication is
extraordinary. Coach Wolf graduated
with a degree in economics from
UCLA and an MBA from Santa Clara.
He worked as a financial analyst
at Ford Aerospace and Lockheed.
During that time, while holding a
full-time job and raising a family, he
coached at various high schools in
Santa Clara County. He was also the
volunteer coach for his two daughters
in youth soccer, basketball, and
softball. He administered basketball
camps in the summer.
50 March 2025
impressive was that when his family Greg at his first coaching job, Westmont High
What I found particularly
Basketball in 1981-1982
moved to the Loop area, Greg still
BY MIKE DOVE, CORRAL DE TIERRA
commuted up to San Jose to teach and
Greg Wolf coach field hockey. The field hockey
team was quite good and reached
the semi-finals of the Central Coast
Section. One of his greatest moments
was when his high school junior girls,
who had one more year of Field Hockey
left, pleaded with him not to retire and
to continue coaching them as seniors.
His coaching wisdom is exemplary.
His basic philosophy is that the coach
should help players improve and
make their team improve every day.
Communication and player buy-in to
strategy and team development is key.
Instead of blindly telling players what
to do, the players, in whatever sport, self- confidence in their athletes that for their teammates.” He often gives
need to understand the reasoning. carries over from the field to life.” nicknames to his players to encourage
He often asks his players what they The coach’s responsibility is the fun and camaraderie. “Don’t have too
would do in certain situations and why. same as his athletes: to get better every many rules. Be there for your athletes.”
Creating responsible athletes who day. “I’m a much better coach now than I’m going to bet that he won’t relax
understand their sport and help their I was earlier in my career. I’ve learned very long before he looks for another
team is his biggest goal and reward. He it’s imperative that the athletes have coaching job closer to home. The
comments, “The best coaches develop fun, develop basic skills, focus, and care students on his team will be very lucky.
Mike Dove is our resident running expert. Having run for years, Mike is an integral component in many
runner’s groups and has participated on several running event committees. He has completed numerous
marathons, including our own Big Sur International Marathon. Mike lives in Corral de Tierra with his wife.
Are you or someone you know
passionate about athletics
and sports? Share that story!
Contact Laurie.Martin@n2co.
com or phone 272-4620.
After twenty-three years as
a financial analyst, he found his
true calling, besides coaching, as
a teacher. Last year, he finished
another twenty-three-year career
teaching economics, business,
accounting, and marketing at the high
school level. He comments, “if you
do it right, coaching and teaching are
basically very similar.” He continued
his coaching of basketball, both boys
and girls and added field hockey as
well. For a few years, he coached
Greg coaching his 2024 track and field and high jumpers.
Girls field hockey team
Quite a resume.
Greet HWY 68 Loop 51