Retiring Football Coach Epitomizes Best of America
Every now and then, there comes along a local story that warrants greater attention because it represents a microcosm of America. That one of the most successful high school football coaches in the country has called it quits is such a story. Warren Wolf, who coached longer and notched more victories than anyone to ever coach in New Jersey, officially retired last week after coaching Brick Township’s Green Dragons for 51 seasons. Wolf, who turned 81 years young this season, finished his legendary career with two words: “It’s time.”
In his five-plus decades walking the Brick sidelines, Wolf coached his way into the history books, finishing with an astounding record of 361-122-11. He coached eight undefeated teams, with 42 winning seasons and only three years with a losing record. His teams won 31 divisional titles, 13 sectional championships, and six state championships.
“I remember every detail of my career because football is my life and has been my dedication,” Wolf said during his retirement press conference. “My wife, Peggy, came before football and football came before everything else. Nothing ever gets in the way of football and that’s what I expected from my boys and my coaches.”
I was one of Coach Wolf’s players seven years ago. It was sophomore year and nearly all of my friends with whom I played street ball were on the school team — except me — and they convinced me to try out, which I did. While I didn’t see much playing time on varsity that year, Coach Wolf never played favorites or held certain kids to different standards. He was as equally respectful, demanding, and interested in his backup players, such as me, as he was with his starters and all-conference stars.
Coach was a tough, no-nonsense kind of guy, and during practices he’d often “get in there” himself, mixing it up physically with young men one-fourth his age and twice his size — an in-your-face style that was unexpected from a grandfatherly figure.
But while his practices were long, brutal, and disciplined, he would never miss an opportunity to inquire about the personal needs of all his players. Between drills, he was likely to ask, in his musky Clint Eastwood-like voice, “How’s school going, Nicky?” If he knew the father or mother of a player was sick, he’d call that player aside and offer assistance and sincere empathy. After games, he would visit injured players in the hospital — both players on our team and the opposing teams. He was as personally invested in the happiness and well-being of the people around him as anyone I have ever met.
Coach used football as a conduit to life lessons. Practices were often a seminar on manhood as much as they were about better blocking from the offensive line. After 9/11, he talked to us about his own wartime experiences in “the big one,” World War II. Like some sage, he’d offer advice, even if inadvertently: “In football and in life, boys, it’s hit or be hit. Hit or be hit.”
While football was a way of life for him, Wolf’s impact on Brick, New Jersey, can hardly be limited to the football field. His effect on this town cannot be measured in sports terms alone.
Great article. Coach Wolf was like many good men who have dedicated themselves to teaching and athletics. Best of luck to him!
1958 was the year of ‘The Greatest Game’, the championship match between the Giants and Colts. Those Giants had Lombardi as offensive coordinator, and Landry as defensive coordinator, a super group from the pinnacle of the pantheon. If only the G-men called New Jersey home then, as they do now, the synchronicity would be more cohesive. But at the time, they played at Yankee Stadium, the original constructed by Edison Concrete, which closed this year.
Warren Wolf is a remnant of a dying breed. He offered a permanence in service as a vanguard to a community, a rock against transient currents that muddy the soul. He’s a modern analogue the Christian gentleman-generals Lee and Jackson, who shined with nobility in folding themselves into their communities. Coach Wolf has tied his town through Mr. Lincoln’s ‘mystic chords of memory’ to memories of what’s good and honorable and perhaps uniquely American. Few men in few fields do so as the scholastic football coach does. They often carry stoically and alone the responsibilities that go hand-in-glove with rights. Thanks for cherishing and recognizing this.
What a great story to start my weekend. Made me think about the men that infulenced my life. My Dad, God, Football coach’s, NCO’s, Rugby coach’s and most most important the “old timers” that taught me how to get and stay sober. Thanks Nick.
Unfortunately for our young people, we shall not see many of his type again. Our society is ultimately the loser as his generation of coaches leaves the scene.
As someone who went to a high school that played Brick every year (and back in the day, it was the Thanksgiving Day game), I remember everyone respected Warren Wolf and Brick football.
This article is a worthy tribute to Coach Wolf.
Who is left to mold young men, when under-appreciated treasures like Coach Wolf leave the scene? Coach Wolf, though I’ve never met him, has my utmost respect. Those guys who fought WWII and then came home to help create and preserve what is best in our nation are a dying breed. Who will replace them? A young man, in way a young woman does not, needs a strong male authority figure in his life – a teacher, coach, clergyman, or drill sergeant – to shape his character for the better, to “break” him and rebuild him as a man. Ideally, a father should do this, but it is a big job for anyone, and dads and moms everywhere ought to thank their lucky stars that hard but compassionate men like this one still exist.
I used to teach at an inner city high school, and know firsthand the dire need for men like Coach Wolf in those places, where female single-parent households are so common. Sadly, those who tried to run a strict, by-the-book classroom (as I did) were considered an anachronism, and bad for student’s self-esteem (whatever that is).
Bless you, coach and many happy returns…