Raymond Wolf

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American baseball player (1904–1979)

title: "Raymond Wolf" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1904-births", "1979-deaths", "cincinnati-reds-players", "columbus-senators-players", "florida-gators-athletic-directors", "florida-gators-football-coaches", "georgia-pre-flight-skycrackers-football-coaches", "major-league-baseball-first-basemen", "north-carolina-tar-heels-football-coaches", "tcu-horned-frogs-athletic-directors", "tcu-horned-frogs-baseball-players", "tcu-horned-frogs-baseball-coaches", "tcu-horned-frogs-football-players", "tcu-horned-frogs-football-coaches", "tulane-green-wave-football-coaches", "united-states-navy-officers", "baseball-players-from-chicago", "players-of-american-football-from-chicago", "united-states-navy-reservists", "united-states-navy-personnel-of-world-war-ii", "deaths-from-cancer-in-texas", "military-personnel-from-illinois", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American baseball player (1904–1979)" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Wolf" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American baseball player (1904–1979) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox college coach"]

FieldValue
nameRaymond Wolf
imageRaymond Wolf.png
captionWolf pictured in Yackety Yack 1938, North Carolina yearbook
birth_date
birth_placeChicago, Illinois, U.S.
death_date
death_placeFort Worth, Texas, U.S.
player_sport1Football
player_years21924–1926
player_team2TCU
player_sport3Baseball
player_years41925–1927
player_team4TCU
player_years51927
player_team5Columbus Senators
player_years61927
player_team6Cincinnati Reds
player_years71928
player_team7Columbus Senators
player_positionsTackle (football)
First baseman (baseball)
coach_sport1Football
coach_years21929–1935
coach_team2TCU (line)
coach_years31936–1941
coach_team3North Carolina
coach_years41942
coach_team4Georgia Pre-Flight
coach_years51946–1949
coach_team5Florida
coach_years61950–1951
coach_team6Tulane (line)
coach_years71952–1953
coach_team7Tulane
coach_sport8Baseball
coach_years91935–1936
coach_team9TCU
admin_years11934–1936
admin_team1TCU
admin_years21946–1949
admin_team2Florida
overall_record64–55–7 (football)
17–21–1 (baseball)
::

| name = Raymond Wolf | image = Raymond Wolf.png | alt = | caption = Wolf pictured in Yackety Yack 1938, North Carolina yearbook | birth_date = | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | alma_mater = | player_sport1 = Football | player_years2 = 1924–1926 | player_team2 = TCU | player_sport3 = Baseball | player_years4 = 1925–1927 | player_team4 = TCU | player_years5 = 1927 | player_team5 = Columbus Senators | player_years6 = 1927 | player_team6 = Cincinnati Reds | player_years7 = 1928 | player_team7 = Columbus Senators | player_positions = Tackle (football) First baseman (baseball) | coach_sport1 = Football | coach_years2 = 1929–1935 | coach_team2 = TCU (line) | coach_years3 = 1936–1941 | coach_team3 = North Carolina | coach_years4 = 1942 | coach_team4 = Georgia Pre-Flight | coach_years5 = 1946–1949 | coach_team5 = Florida | coach_years6 = 1950–1951 | coach_team6 = Tulane (line) | coach_years7 = 1952–1953 | coach_team7 = Tulane | coach_sport8 = Baseball | coach_years9 = 1935–1936 | coach_team9 = TCU | admin_years1 = 1934–1936 | admin_team1 = TCU | admin_years2 = 1946–1949 | admin_team2 = Florida | overall_record = 64–55–7 (football) 17–21–1 (baseball) | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = | awards = | coaching_records =

Raymond Bernard Wolf (July 15, 1904 – October 6, 1979), nicknamed "Bear" Wolf, was an American football and baseball player and coach. Wolf was a native of Illinois and an alumnus of Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played college football and college baseball. He played professional baseball for two seasons, and appeared in one Major League Baseball game for the Cincinnati Reds in 1927. Wolf served as the head football coach at the University of North Carolina (1936–1941), the University of Florida (1946–1949) and Tulane University (1952–1953). He was also the head baseball coach at his alma mater, TCU, from 1935 to 1936 and the athletic director at Florida from 1946 to 1949.

Early years

Wolf was born in Chicago, in 1904. He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas, where he played tackle for the Texas Christian Horned Frogs football team from 1924 to 1926. He played professional baseball for the Cincinnati Reds organization for a single season in 1927, but returned to TCU to graduate in 1928. Thereafter, Wolf got his start in coaching, working with the TCU linemen from 1929 to 1935.

Coaching career

From 1936 to 1941, Wolf was employed by the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to coach the North Carolina Tar Heels football team, The university board of trustees renewed his contract at an increased salary in 1941 for an additional five years, but his service in the navy prevented him from coaching during World War II.

Wolf became an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1942 during World War II. After initial training, he worked as a football coach at two of the service's naval aviation training stations, including the Navy's Pre-Flight School in Athens, Georgia and Flight Preparatory School in Austin, Texas. He led the 1942 Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers football team to a 7–1–1 record, including victories over Penn, Auburn, and Alabama. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant commander, and after the war ended in September 1945, the Navy released Wolf to inactive duty.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Raymond_"Bear"_Wolf.png" caption="Wolf c. 1949"] ::

In 1946, Wolf was hired by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida to be the new head football coach of the Florida Gators football team, replacing coach Tom Lieb. Wolf coached the Gators for four seasons from 1946 to 1949 and posted a 13–24–2 record, but his Southeastern Conference (SEC) record was 2–17–2. The Florida Board of Control balked at renewing his contract when his initial three-year term expired after the 1948 season, but offered him a two-year contract extension in the aftermath of widespread public demonstrations of support by the football team and the Florida student body. Wolf was fired after the 1949 season, but nevertheless managed to leave Florida on a high note when his 1949 Gators upset the rival Georgia Bulldogs 28–7 for the first and only time during his tenure. In retrospect, Wolf's loyal Gators football players ironically dubbed his tenure as the "Golden Era," and many of his returning players formed the nucleus of Bob Woodruff's improving Gators football teams of the early 1950s.

In 1950, Wolf was hired by head coach Henry Frnka of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, to be a senior assistant coach for the Tulane Green Wave football team. When Frnka unexpectedly resigned in March 1952, Wolf became the head coach and led the Green Wave during the 1952 and 1953 seasons,

Later years

After retiring from coaching after the 1953 season, Wolf became an administrative officer at TCU, his alma mater. He was honored as a member of the TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record

Football

| name = North Carolina Tar Heels | conf = Southern Conference | startyear = 1936 | endyear = 1941 | championship = | year = 1936 | name = North Carolina | overall = 8–2 | conference = 5–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1937 | name = North Carolina | overall = 7–1–1 | conference = 4–0–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1938 | name = North Carolina | overall = 6–2–1 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 4th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1939 | name = North Carolina | overall = 8–1–1 | conference = 5–1 | confstanding = 3rd | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1940 | name = North Carolina | overall = 6–4 | conference = 3–2 | confstanding = T–5th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1941 | name = North Carolina | overall = 3–7 | conference = 2–4 | confstanding = 11th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | name = North Carolina | overall = 38–17–3 | confrecord = 23–9–1 | name = Georgia Pre-Flight Skycrackers | conf = Independent | startyear = 1942 | endyear = single | championship = | year = 1942 | name = Georgia Pre-Flight | overall = 7–1–1 | conference = | confstanding = | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | name = Georgia Pre-Flight | overall = 7–1–1 | confrecord = | name = Florida Gators | conf = Southeastern Conference | startyear = 1946 | endyear = 1949 | championship = | year = 1946 | name = Florida | overall = 0–9 | conference = 0–5 | confstanding = 12th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1947 | name = Florida | overall = 4–5–1 | conference = 0–3–1 | confstanding = 12th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1948 | name = Florida | overall = 5–5 | conference = 1–5 | confstanding = T–10th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1949 | name = Florida | overall = 4–6–1 | conference = 1–4–1 | confstanding = T–10th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | name = Florida | overall = 13–24–2 | confrecord = 2–17–2 | name = Tulane Green Wave | conf = Southeastern Conference | startyear = 1952 | endyear = 1953 | championship = | year = 1952 | name = Tulane | overall = 5–5 | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = 8th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1953 | name = Tulane | overall = 1–8–1 | conference = 0–7 | confstanding = 12th | bowl = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | name = Tulane | overall = 6–13–1 | confrecord = 3–12 | overall = 64–55–7 | bowls = no | poll = no | polltype = | legend = no

References

References

  1. United Press, "[https://www.nytimes.com/1952/03/20/archives/frnka-resigns-as-tulane-coach-wolf-appointed-to-football-post.html Frnka Resigns as Tulane Coach; Wolf Appointed to Football Post]," ''The New York Times'' (March 20, 1952). Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  2. MLB.com, Cincinnati Reds, Players, [http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/historical/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=cin&playerID=124506&section1=1&section2=1&statSet2=1&section3=1&statSet3=1&statSet1=2 Ray Wolf]. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  3. TCU Lettermen's Association, Hall of Fame, [http://www.lettermens.tcu.edu/All-TimeHallofFameInducteeList.asp Alpha List of Hall of Fame Inductees]. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  4. link. (February 25, 2012 . Retrieved April 29, 2010.)
  5. Associated Press, "[https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=FB0616FD3D5E167B93C7AB178AD85F458485F9 N. Carolina Extends Contract]," ''The New York Times'', page S19 (January 25, 1941). Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  6. ''Army and Navy Journal''. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1CEYAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA937&lpg=PA937 "Navy Physical Training Graduates"], volume 79, issues 27-52, April 25, 1942, page 937.
  7. Arthur Daley, "[https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F70D15F8385D167B93C4A8178BD95F468485F9 On College Gridirons]," ''The New York Times'' (October 16, 1942). Retrieved June 29, 2010. Associated Press, "[https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F30E1EF73B5D167B93C6A8178AD85F478485F9 Lieutenant Wolf Transferred]," ''The New York Times'' (January 14, 1943). Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  8. For a description of military-sponsored football teams during World War II, ''please see'' John Kieran, "[https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F20B11FC385D167B93C5AB1783D85F468485F9 Sports of the Times; Here's the Way They Go to School]," '' The New York Times'', page S24 (August 27, 1942). Retrieved June 29, 2010. ''See also'' John Kieran, "[https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F50713FB3458167B93CBAB1782D85F468485F9 Sports of the Times; Double Talk in Football Huddles]," ''The New York Times'', page 28 (September 29, 1942). Retrieved June 29, 1942.
  9. Associated Press, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=37kxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hucFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5092,1638626&dq=raymond-bear-wolf&hl=en Bear Wolf Gets Naval Discharge]," ''Miami Daily News'', page 7 (September 8, 1945). Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  10. ''[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2012/media_guide.pdf 2012 Florida Football Media Guide] {{webarchive. link. (2013-05-27 '', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pages 109, 115, 116 (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2012.)
  11. Associated Press, "[https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F60B1EF7355F177B93C4A91789D95F4D8485F9 Wolf Resigns At Florida]," ''The New York Times'', page S43 (December 6, 1949). Retrieved June 26, 1949.
  12. Associated Press, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U7ItAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J8gEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1739,282491&hl=en Gators Give Bear Wolf A Watch]," ''Daytona Beach Morning Journal'', page 6 (December 3, 1948). Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  13. Associated Press, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9gBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jlUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4418,6810251&hl=en Florida Gives Wolf Another Two Seasons]," ''The Evening Independent'', page 22 (December 6, 1948). Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  14. Tom McEwen, ''The Gators: A Story of Florida Football'', The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama, pages 149–151, 167 (1974).
  15. Wolf died of cancer in Fort Worth, Texas in 1979."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mv0NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cXwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3136,224062&dq=raymond-bear-wolf&hl=en "Ex-Gators coach 'Bear' Wolf dies of cancer at 78"], ''St. Petersburg Times'', p. 4C (October 9, 1979); retrieved April 29, 2010.
  16. ''2009 Southern Conference Football Media Guide'', [http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/09fbguide/74-77standings.pdf?SPSID=35576&SPID=1781&DB_OEM_ID=4000 Year-by-Year Standings], pp. 74–77 (2009). Retrieved March 16, 2010.

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