Head coach Phil Wolf begins his third season at the helm of the Azusa Pacific men's soccer program. In 2 seasons, Wolf has fashioned a 22-7-8 mark, leading the Cougars to a GSAC championship in his rookie season as well as an appearance in the NAIA Region II championship game.
After a 15-1-3 finish in his first campaign, Wolf and the Cougars encountered a plethora of misfortune on and off the field last year. Nonetheless, the Cougars still battled their way to a 7-6-5 mark, falling just one game shy of a playoff berth-a true testament to Wolf's influence. Now, with all memories of last year's disappointing season a distant memory, Wolf is preparing to return his third set of Cougars back to the top of the GSAC.
Two seasons ago, Wolf replaced Azusa Pacific Hall of Fame coach Don Lawrence, who retired from coaching in January of 2001 to become the director of Azusa Pacific's Yosemite Sierra Semester. After 16 seasons at the helm, Lawrence, who guided Azusa Pacific to the Golden State Athletic Conference title in 3 of the past 5 seasons, stepped away as the GSAC's all-time winningest coach, compiling a 180-105-18 record since 1985.
In Lawrence's place, Wolf inherited an Azusa Pacific team that graduated just 2 players from the 2000 squad that finished 17-2-1, won the GSAC crown and was ranked No. 2 in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll. In his first season in 2001, Wolf led the Cougars to one of the finest seasons in school history. The Cougars finished 15-1-3, clinching a share of a second straight GSAC title and advancing to the NAIA Region II championship game-not too bad for a rookie.
Last season, however, the Cougars limped to a 7-6-5 mark, while battling through adversity for seemingly the entire season. The Cougars were hit with numerous key injuries the entire way, including a career-ending knee injury to All-GSAC defender Jacob Ward. However, not one to make excuses, Wolf guided the Cougars to where they were playing their best soccer at the right time and pulled them within one game of an appearance in the NAIA Region II Playoffs. Included among last year's successes, the Cougars knocked off defending NAIA Region II champion Alliant International, 3-1, and tied eventual NAIA-champion Mobile (Ala.), 1-1, and NAIA Tournament participant Concordia, 2-2.
Wolf came to Azusa Pacific after 5 seasons as an assistant at Wheaton, serving for legendary head coach Joe Bean. He was a key assistant on Wheaton's 1997 NCAA Division III national championship team and was on staff when the Thunder set an NCAA all-divisions record with 66 consecutive matches without a loss.
Azusa Pacific is Wolf's first opportunity as a head coach on the collegiate level. He did serve one season (1999) as head coach of the boys' soccer team at Wesleyan Academy in High Point, N.C.
As a player, Wolf was a 3-time NCAA Division III All-American at Wheaton, earning third-team recognition as a 1989 sophomore and first-team honors in 1990 and 1991. He led the Thunder to a combined 4-year record of 77-10-6, a mark that produced 4 conference titles and an appearance in the 1990 NCAA Division III Final Four. By the time he graduated he was the program's third all-time scorer with 135 career points (now fifth within a program that has produced 24 All-Americans and 2 NCAA championship teams).
Wolf went on to play 5 seasons of professional soccer, 3 campaigns of indoor play with the Dayton Dynamo (NPSL) and then on the outdoor circuit with the Charlotte Eagles (USL), Rockford Raptors (USL) and the Chicago Stingers (USL).
Phil prepped at Wheaton North High School and graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor's degree in communications in 1992. He completed his master's degree in evangelism from Wheaton in May.
Phil's older brother, Dave Wolf, is the athletic director and men's soccer coach at GSAC rival Westmont College.
Phil is married to the former Melanie Culbreth. They have one son, Barrett (3) and one daughter, Maggie (1).
