Cal Men's Basketball: Andy Wolfe (Pete Newell Career Achievement Award 2013)

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• published: 15 Feb 2013
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Andy Wolfe, a First Team All-American for the Golden Bears in the 1940's, will receive the Pete Newell Career Achievement Award during a halftime ceremony when Cal hosts UCLA at 6 p.m. (PT) on Thursday, Feb. 14, in the third annual Pete Newell Classic at Haas Pavilion. "It is always nice to be recognized," Wolfe said. "You get as far along as I am in my life and to be given this honor is really outstanding. It means a great deal to my family and I." The game honors the legacy of Cal's Hall of Fame men's basketball coach Pete Newell and the contributions he made to the University of California basketball program. The Career Achievement Award is presented to a Cal men's basketball alumnus who has distinguished himself in his career accomplishments, upholding the highest ideals of Coach Newell and the University of California. Wolfe exemplifies these qualities, serving as a standout ambassador for the program both as a player and later as a coach for the Golden Bears. The versatile Wolfe played both guard and forward at Cal from 1946-48. He owns the distinction as the first player in school history to score at least 1,000 points in his career. Wolfe completed his 97-game career in Berkeley with 1,112 career points, which currently ranks 31st on the school's career scoring list. Wolfe was a three-time All-Pacific Coast Conference selection for the Southern Division and was a First Team All-America pick by the Helms Athletic Foundation as a senior in 1948. He led the team in scoring during his first season in 1946 at 13.4 points per game. Wolfe averaged 12.1 points his senior season and 11.5 over his career with the Bears. He was a standout player on the 1946 team that won 30 games and finished fourth in the NCAA under fellow legendary head coach Nibs Price. Wolfe, who was voted a team captain as a senior, was also the recipient of the program's Most Inspirational Player award in 1948. Wolfe was part of the second class to be inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 along with Newell. He was later inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor in 2006. Wolfe later served on Price's staff as an assistant coach from 1951-54, winning 50 games in three seasons. Price named him as "the greatest player he ever coached" and when Price selected his five greatest players after 30 years of coaching, he described Wolfe as "great clutch player, nothing much he couldn't do perfectly, a fine shot, dribbler, driver, defense player, inspirational leader and an All American in the true sense of the word." Following his standout basketball career, Wolfe pursued a law degree at night at the University of San Francisco while working in the Alameda probation department. After earning a four-year degree in law, he was a member of a successful firm in the Bay Area for more than 30 years. Wolfe's success on the court transitioned in the courtroom as well where he was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates. Wolfe actually enrolled at Cal in 1942, but enlisted in the Navy Air Corp where he served nearly three years of active duty in Pensacola, Fla. and went on to serve inactive duty at the end of the war. Born in Martinez, Calif., Wolfe moved to Berkeley when he was 12 years old and now resides in Walnut Creek these days and attends several Cal men's basketball games at Haas Pavilion. Wolfe's wife, Peggy, along with his sons Andy Jr. and Peter, will accompany him on the court on Feb. 14. About Pete Newell Pete Newell served as Cal's basketball coach from 1954-60, guiding the Bears to the 1959 NCAA Championship and a national runner-up finish in 1960, the same season he was voted the national coach of the year. Cal also reached the NCAA regional final in 1957 and '58 under his leadership. Overall, he led the Bears to four consecutive conference titles (1957-60) while compiling a 119-44 record. Newell coached the 1960 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics and later served as Cal's Director of Athletics from 1960-68. Newell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. The entire 1960 Olympic team, which included former Golden Bear Darrall Imhoff in addition to Newell as head coach, was enshrined into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2010. Newell also earned entry into the FIBA International Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Newell, who was born on Aug. 31, 1915, passed away on Nov. 17, 2008.