Red Wolfe (basketball)

Wolfe attended DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City. He was a member of the St. John's College men's basketball team during the 1927–28 season, then dropped out of school to play professional basketball. During the 1928–29 season, he was a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, an independent club, and played three games for the New York Hakoahs of the American Basketball League.^[1]

In 1929, Wolfe joined the Philadelphia Sphas. He holds the team record for most seasons played and is second in total games played.^[2] He was a member of nine championship teams.^[1]

In 1943, Wolfe took over as head coach at LIU Brooklyn after Clair Bee entered the United States Merchant Marine. In inherited a roster led by Eddie Younger and Irv Rothenberg.^[3] Over two seasons, Wolfe compiled a 26–8 record.^[4]

Wolfe learned from a bookmaker friend that his team was fixing games. He threatened to turn in any player who took part, the fixing continued and he did not discipline any players.^[5] After a match fixing scandal at Brooklyn College came to light, he and CCNY head coach Nat Holman publicly denounced New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia's accusation that "the practice of "bribing athletes was widespread".^[6] Players from LIU and CCNY were implicated in a 1951 point-shaving scandal, which led to LIU shutting down its basketball program.^[7]