Published: June 30, 2008 10:51 pm            

HS ATHLETICS: Wolf steps down at St. Joe’s

His office cluttered with boxes, files, pictures and awards, Joe Wolf admitted Monday he’s leaving St. Joe’s with mixed emotions.

On one hand, he’s thrilled his retirement after 46 years — the last 42 as athletics director — at the Kenmore Avenue school will allow him to spend more time with his beloved family. On the other, though, is the fact it’s difficult leaving his home away from home, a small office filled with memory after memory of Wolf’s time with the Marauders.

And what a time it was. When Wolf started at St. Joe’s, there were six sports teams. Today, the Marauders field teams in 16 sports and have 73 coaches.

“People have asked me, ‘Do I have any regrets?’ ” Wolf said. “The only regret I did have is I didn’t spend enough time with my own children. I said to myself, ‘I’m not going to let this happen with my grandchildren.’ Instead of giving all my efforts and time to the boys at St. Joe’s, I can finally give some time to my family.”

Wolf can now bring his grandchildren — there are five of them, ranging in age from 5 to 11 — to St. Joe’s games, and instead of constantly running around making sure things are going smoothly, he can instead relax and be a fan.

“That’s something I haven’t had a chance to do in a long time,” he said.

As the walls in Wolf’s office attest, the Marauders program has achieved enormous success under Wolf’s watch. St. Joe’s has won 73 championships during his tenure, including 31 Supremacy Cups, which is awarded annually to the top athletic program in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association.

“None of that would be possible without the wonderful players and coaches,” Wolf said. “I was just steering the car. They were the engine and wheels that made it go.”

Wolf’s departure comes at a time when the St. Joe’s program is set to enter a new era. A new, $2 million athletic facility will replace the old grass baseball and football fields with field turf. Wolf admitted the project took him some time to warm up to, as “baseball and football are meant to be played on grass,” but he eventually recognized the need for the new fields.

“With so many sports playing, we just couldn’t keep the fields in good shape,” he said. “We won’t have to worry about that now.”

Wolf, 68, was inducted into the St. Joe’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and last year won the state Catholic High School Athletic Director of the Year. He’ll be replaced by Pete Schneider, who’s served the past four years as assistant AD.

“The transition won’t be bad at all,” Wolf said.

Wolf and his wife, Judy, are selling their home in Cheektowaga. The couple owns a summer cottage at Crystal Beach. They also plan to do some traveling, especially during the long Western New York winter.

Contact editor Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.

        

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