Founders+Funders honors Greg Wolf and sports’ power to transform lives
From the field to forever, one Bearcat for Life's impact continues
As this year's University of Cincinnati (UC) Founders+Funders Summit celebrates the power of sports in building community, leadership and lifelong connection, we pause to honor one remarkable Bearcat and Carl H. Lindner College of Business graduate whose spirit continues to inspire generations: Gregory C. Wolf, BBA ’92.
Wolf’s legacy is one that reminds us of the impact one Bearcat can have, extending far beyond the football field. Through his passion, generosity and an enduring commitment to UC, Wolf continues to uplift student-athletes and unite Bearcats past, present and future. He offers a lasting testament to what it means to be a Bearcat for Life. More than wearing red and black on game day, it's a lifelong commitment to leadership and service. Few have embodied that spirit more fully than Wolf, an alumnus, business leader, husband, father and proud Bearcat.
Greg Wolf shaped the University of Cincinnati in ways he never imagined, becoming a beacon of school pride and an embodiment of Next Lives Here.
UC President Neville Pinto
Greg Wolf. Photo/UC Foundation
For Wolf, his years at UC were not just a chapter, but the foundation for a life devoted to connection and purpose. A walk-on football player who earned a scholarship after his first year, Wolf believed that moment changed his life trajectory. The friendships he forged, the lessons learned on the field and off, and the mentors who guided him helped shape a lifelong devotion to the university — one that only grew stronger with time.
UC President Neville G. Pinto honored Wolf posthumously with the President’s Award for Excellence during UC’s Rieveschl Dinner in spring 2022. It is the highest honor given to those whose impact and contributions to the university have been significant. Text from the proclamation read:
“Whether leading in his professional or personal life, he was known for his love of people, his positivity and — above all — his genuine compassion and humanity. Greg Wolf shaped the University of Cincinnati in ways he never imagined, becoming a beacon of school pride and an embodiment of Next Lives Here. He was the model Next alumnus and an example of outstanding success for today’s students.”
Wolf is one of only four to receive such an award from Pinto since he became president in 2017.
Game-changing impact
Greg Wolf, seated to the far right, with the Amgis and Red, Black and Hard Nines group. Photo/UC Foundation.
Wolf never forgot where his journey began. His own scholarship experience inspired him to create two opportunities for future student-athletes through an investment club he founded called the Red Black and Hard Nines (RBHN).
The following scholarships established by Wolf bear this name and support UC athletes:
- RBHN Football Scholarship
- RBHN Men’s Basketball Scholarship
Following Wolf’s passing, his name was added to each award, now known as:
- The Greg Wolf RBHN Endowed Football Scholarship
- The Greg Wolf RBHN Endowed Men’s Basketball Scholarship
That spirit of giving didn’t end with Wolf's passing in 2020. It multiplied.
Today, a total of four scholarships proudly bear his name, each rooted in his belief that sports build character, resilience and leadership.
Among the tributes to his legacy are the Greg Wolf “Strength In Unity” Endowed Scholarship Fund, initiated by Christie and sons Joe and Kevin. Today, the fund continues with support and leadership from fellow Bearcat classmates and Sigma Sigma fraternity brothers like Kirk Perry, BBA ’90, HON ’15; Phil Collins, BBA ’89; Chris Carper, BSCS ’93; Mike Taney, BSME ’91 and Erick Schmidt, BBA ’90.
Together, they honor Wolf’s journey by empowering students with two additional opportunities to compete with heart, lead with purpose and grow through every challenge:
- The Greg Wolf “Strength In Unity” Endowed Tennis Scholarship
- The Greg Wolf "Strength In Unity” Endowed Football Scholarship
Greg and his wife, Christie Wolf. Photo/Christie Wolf.
His wife, Christie Wolf, BBA '91, and their two sons, Joe and Kevin, have carried his torch with grace and passion, ensuring that Greg’s legacy continues to open doors for others. The Red Black and Hard Nines and Wolf’s family formed the Greg C. Wolf Memorial Event, a golf tournament to celebrate his life and fuel his mission. The tournament raised nearly $450,000 for scholarships and another $300,000 for the University of Cincinnati Student-Athlete Development Academy.
Chris Carper, director of solution engineering at Microsoft, said, “Far beyond a day on the greens, the tournament was a gathering of hearts united by Greg’s spirit and shared belief in the transformative power of friendship and leadership.”
Overall, the scholarships now total over $1.4 million to support UC student-athletes.
From the field to the future
Christie Wolf and members of the golf committee present a check to the Student Athlete Development Academy. Photo/UC Foundation
At the University of Central Florida vs. UC Bearcats game on Oct. 11, Christie Wolf and members of the golf committee presented a $300,000 check to the Student-Athlete Development Academy, the largest gift it has ever received.
“Our family is committed to transforming Greg’s passing into a meaningful legacy. I witnessed how a leadership academy at another school equipped our son with the skills to excel in job interviews,” Christie Wolf said. “Through practice with mock interviews, he gained the confidence and preparation needed to secure a job. By supporting the leadership academy, we can help student-athletes launch their careers and build bright futures, creating a lasting tribute to Greg. He would be deeply honored to be part of such an impactful initiative.”
The Academy empowers UC student-athletes to thrive beyond the field, developing confidence, communication and career skills that shape them into future leaders. It's a cause that couldn’t align more closely with Wolf’s philosophy: That success is not defined by titles or trophies, but by the lives we impact along the way.
A legacy of teamwork
Greg Wolf at the Legion of Excellence Gala. Photo/UC Foundation.
Wolf's story is one of connection to the countless people he inspired, from executives to UC staff, students and coaches. As anyone who knew him personally will say, “Greg had a rare ability to bring people together.” He mentored student-athletes across multiple sports, reignited alumni involvement and strengthened the bridge between generations of Bearcats.
His reach extended far beyond athletics. As vice chair and incoming chair of the UC Foundation Board from 2011 to 2020, Wolf lived the mission of “igniting passion to transform lives.” He brought that same passion to every aspect of his life, from a successful career in the energy and therapeutics industries at Duke Energy, Leeward Renewable Energy and Nanocan Therapeutics, to his volunteer leadership both at UC and the Cincinnati Museum Center. Above all, he cherished his role as husband to Christie and father to Joe and Kevin, coaching his sons on the football field and modeling what it means to lead with heart.
Enduring Bearcat spirit
Greg and Christie Wolf, with sons, Joe and Kevin. Photo/Christie Wolf.
Today, Wolf's legacy is more than a memory; it's a movement.
Through his scholarships, the Academy and the community he built, Wolf’s influence continues to ripple through generations of Bearcats. The student-athletes he never met, like engineering standout Ryan Royer, BSME ’22, tennis scholar Gabrielle Guenther and football leaders Gavin Gerhardt and Antwan Peek Jr., carry his spirit forward in every classroom, practice and community they touch.
As we gather at this year's Founders+Funders event, we are reminded that every legacy begins with a moment, a walk-on believing in himself, a Bearcat answering the call, a community he inspired to give back.
“Greg Wolf showed us what one person's unwavering commitment can do. His life was proof that being a Bearcat for Life means more than wearing the colors,” said Karen Hatcher, executive senior associate AD and senior associate vice president of principal giving. “It means carrying the mission, lifting up others and building leaders.”
Wolf’s life was a life well lived. A legacy that will never fade as it continues to ignite a passion through every classroom and sports practice, and throughout the community.
Because Greg Wolf didn't just play for the Bearcats – he wove his spirit into the playbook for all to follow.
Cover Image: Greg Wolf with Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs and former Cincinnati Bearcat. Photo/UC Foundation.
This is how breakthroughs happen
Your generosity has illuminated what’s next: Student success beyond the classroom. Bearcats winning on the Big 12 stage. The gift of discovery for the health of our community. When you give to the University of Cincinnati and UC Health, you invest in the problem-solvers of tomorrow.
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