St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute Coach/Athletic Director
Leader, motivator, mentor and friend, these are just a few of the many adjectives that describe the service and legacy of Joe Wolf. Wolf’s service as administrator and ultimately Athletics Director at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Kenmore spanned over 46 years before his retirement in June of 2008.
A 1957 graduate of St Joe’s, Joe went on to Niagara University, from where he graduated in 1962. He later earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Canisius College in 1967.
Following his graduation from Niagara, he began a lifetime of service to his high school alma mater where during his career, he would teach History, Business Law, and Physical Education, along with coaching baseball and JV football. His St. Joe’s varsity baseball teams won more than 130 games and two Georgetown Cups; his football teams were 97-7-4 and had 8 undefeated seasons.
He was named Athletics Director at St Joe’s in 1966. Under his leadership, St. Joe’s athletics grew from a modest six to 16 sponsored sports programs. During his tenure as AD, St Joseph’s athletics teams won 273 championships including 31 Monsignor Martin Association overall sports program Supremacy Cups.
Although he was widely recognized and honored as a fine coach and a superb administrator, many have said he was an even better teacher. Indeed one of his finest accomplishments was that in his entire teaching career only three of his students ever failed a NYS Regents exam.
In the community, Wolf has been recognized as the 1981 Knights of Columbus Man of the Year and has been honored at least three separate times by SJCI – as their Alumni Association Man of the Year in 1986, Athletics Hall of Fame inductee in 1996 and Distinguished Alumni Signum Fidei Society in 1999. Additionally, Wolf was named NYS Catholic H.S. Athletics Director of the Year in 2007 and was awarded the prestigious John D. Burns Award for outstanding support and dedication to high school football.
He was honored for his accomplishments, leadership and service in a Proclamation by the Town of Tonawanda Board on June 16th, 2008 naming that day Mr. Joseph Wolf Appreciation Day.