Page 51 - Greet HWY 68 Loop 03.25

SPORTS & ATHLETICS

Coaching for Life: Greg Wolf 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
LET’S CHEER FOR all the coaches out Greg Wolf coach field hockey. The field hockey
there. They don’t get their due respect. team was quite good and reached
I give total respect to four-year loop the semi-finals of the Central Coast
resident Greg Wolf, who has given his Section. One of his greatest moments
time willingly to coach various high was when his high school junior girls,
school teams for 43 years. Let that sink who had one more year of Field Hockey
in. Forty-three years of late afternoon left, pleaded with him not to retire and
practices and night games to help to continue coaching them as seniors.
students improve in both their chosen His coaching wisdom is exemplary.
sport and in their lives. His basic philosophy is that the coach
Greg was invited to coach should help players improve and
basketball at his alma mater, make their team improve every day.
Westmont High School in San Jose, Communication and player buy-in to
in the 1981-1982 season and has never strategy and team development is key.
stopped coaching. His dedication is Instead of blindly telling players what
extraordinary. Coach Wolf graduated to do, the players, in whatever sport, self- confidence in their athletes that for their teammates.” He often gives
with a degree in economics from need to understand the reasoning. carries over from the field to life.” nicknames to his players to encourage
UCLA and an MBA from Santa Clara. He often asks his players what they The coach’s responsibility is the fun and camaraderie. “Don’t have too
He worked as a financial analyst would do in certain situations and why. same as his athletes: to get better every many rules. Be there for your athletes.”
at Ford Aerospace and Lockheed. Creating responsible athletes who day. “I’m a much better coach now than I’m going to bet that he won’t relax
During that time, while holding a understand their sport and help their I was earlier in my career. I’ve learned very long before he looks for another
full-time job and raising a family, he team is his biggest goal and reward. He it’s imperative that the athletes have coaching job closer to home. The
coached at various high schools in comments, “The best coaches develop fun, develop basic skills, focus, and care students on his team will be very lucky.
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. 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.

50 March 2025 Greet HWY 68 Loop 51