G League assistant coach Joe Wolf, former UNC captain, dies at 59

Joe Wolf, a former captain under Dean Smith at North Carolina who played for seven teams in his 11-year NBA career before becoming a coach, died unexpectedly Thursday, the Milwaukee Bucks announced.

Wolf, an assistant coach with the Wisconsin Herd — the Bucks’ G League affiliate — was 59 years old.

“Throughout his life, Joe impacted many lives and was a highly respected, revered and dedicated coach and player throughout the NBA,” the Bucks said in a statement. “His highly valued talent was vital to the Bucks and Herd for eight years, including as a player and coach.”

Wolf was a high school All-American in 1983 before joining the Tar Heels to play alongside players like Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins. As a senior, Wolf was co-captain of the Tar Heels from 1986 to 1987, sharing that role with Kenny Smith.

North Carolina posted a 115-22 record in Wolf’s four seasons, making it to the Sweet 16 twice and the Elite Eight twice during that span. Wolf – a 6-foot-10 center and forward – quickly transitioned into coaching after his NBA career ended, using skills he said Dean Smith instilled in him from the start of his college experience.

Wolf was an All-ACC selection in 1987 and left North Carolina with 1,231 points. The LA Clippers used the No. 13 pick in the 1987 draft on Wolf, who spent his first three NBA seasons there before later playing for Denver, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland, Boston and Milwaukee – a return to his home state of Wisconsin. where he led Kohler High School to three state championships.

He coached at the college level as an assistant at William & Mary and UNC Wilmington, was a head coach in what is now the G League at Idaho, Colorado and Greensboro, was an NBA assistant at Milwaukee and Brooklyn and was hired in 2023 as a G League assistant for the Herd.