MILWAUKEE — A former Milwaukee Bucks player and assistant coach unexpectedly passed away Thursday.

Joe Wolf, a Kohler native, died at age 59.

He played for the Bucks from 1996 to 1997, and returned as an assistant coach from 2008 to 2013. He was actively serving as the Wisconsin Herd — the Bucks' G League affiliate — assistant coach.

“The Milwaukee Bucks and Wisconsin Herd are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Herd assistant coach and Kohler native Joe Wolf,” the Bucks said, in-part, in a statement. “Throughout his life, Joe touched many lives and was a highly respected, adored and dedicated coach and player across the NBA. His well-regarded talent was instrumental for the Bucks and Herd over eight years with the organization, including as a player and coach.”

Wolf also played for the NBA's Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Wolf was named Wisconsin’s greatest high school basketball player ever by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2005. Wolf led Kohler High School to three Wisconsin state championships. 

He was a former North Carolina captain for Dean Smith and went on to be the 13th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft. He played for seven teams in an 11-year NBA career before becoming a coach. 

Wolf was a high school All-American in 1983 before joining the Tar Heels to play alongside the likes of Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins. Wolf was a co-captain for the Tar Heels as a senior in 1986-87, sharing that role with Kenny Smith.

North Carolina went 115-22 in Wolf's four seasons, making the Sweet 16 twice and the Elite Eight twice in that span. Wolf — a 6-foot-11 center and forward — quickly moved into coaching once his NBA career was done, using skills he said Smith began instilling in him from the start of his college experience.

“I like to think I started getting trained the minute I stepped on campus,” Wolf told the Greensboro (N.C.) News and Record in 2018. “Coach Smith was all about building the proper habits. That benefits me today.”

He was an All-ACC pick in 1987 and left North Carolina with 1,231 points. Wolf spent his first three NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers before later playing for Denver, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland, Boston and Milwaukee — a return to his home state of Wisconsin, where he was a high school legend. 

He coached at the college level as an assistant at William & Mary and UNC Wilmington, was a head coach in what is now called the G League with Idaho, Colorado and Greensboro, had been an NBA assistant for Milwaukee and Brooklyn and was hired in 2023 as an assistant for the Herd.

“We send our deepest condolences to Joe’s family and friends. The Bucks and Herd will always be grateful to Joe for his hard work and commitment to our organization. He will be missed,” the Bucks said.