- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,135,091
- Reaction score
- 59
Ted Wolford, who coached the Upper Arlington boys lacrosse team to 16 state championships and helped spur the growth of the game across central Ohio, died May 28. He was 66.
Wolford succeeded his older brother Bill, who left to become the first coach at Worthington Kilbourne, and went 460-61 (.883) with the Golden Bears from 1992-2016, leading UA to 18 consecutive finals starting in 1993. Bill died in 2021.
The Bears lost the 1993 final but won 16 titles in the following 23 seasons, including back-to-back championships in 1994-95, 1997-98 and 2000-01, five in a row from 2004-08 and three straight from 2012-14.
Wolford was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008.
“It is with immeasurable sadness that we announce the passing of Coach Ted Wolford,” the team announced on its X account May 28. “Teddy was a coach, a mentor, a husband, a friend, and will always be – a legend. Please keep his wife Vickie, all of his siblings, and the 3132 family in your thoughts and prayers.”
“3132 family” refers to two former UA players who died of brain cancer.
Wolford stepped down after the 2016 season, which UA appropriately capped with a title-game victory over Cleveland St. Ignatius, and was succeeded by one of his former players, Kyle Olson, while remaining on staff as an assistant.
Olson coached UA to its most recent championship in 2022.
Before taking over as head coach, Wolford was an assistant for 11 seasons at UA and coached at both of the district’s middle schools, Hastings and Jones.
UA named its field “Ted Wolford Field” on July 2, 2017.
Flowers were placed next to his name on the turf for the UA girls team’s Division I, Region 3 final against Dublin Coffman on May 28, and a moment of silence was scheduled.
The boys team will take the same field May 29 for the Region 3 final against New Albany.
Several central Ohio lacrosse teams shared condolences on social media.
“The Watterson lacrosse family would like to send our deepest condolences to the Wolford family and the Upper Arlington lacrosse community on the passing of Coach Ted Wolford,” the team posted on its X account. “An amazing man and vital part of the central Ohio lacrosse community who will be sorely missed.”
Watterson is coached by UA graduate Chris Sauter.
A post from Kilbourne’s X account read: “Coach Wolford was an amazing coach, mentor, and friend. We are holding his wife, Vickie, the entire Wolford family, and the 3132 Family close to our hearts. You are in all of our thoughts and prayers. We will forever miss you on the sideline, Teddy!”
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at [email protected] and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Upper Arlington lacrosse coach Ted Wolford dies at 66
Continue reading...
Wolford succeeded his older brother Bill, who left to become the first coach at Worthington Kilbourne, and went 460-61 (.883) with the Golden Bears from 1992-2016, leading UA to 18 consecutive finals starting in 1993. Bill died in 2021.
The Bears lost the 1993 final but won 16 titles in the following 23 seasons, including back-to-back championships in 1994-95, 1997-98 and 2000-01, five in a row from 2004-08 and three straight from 2012-14.
You must be registered for see images attach
Wolford was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008.
“It is with immeasurable sadness that we announce the passing of Coach Ted Wolford,” the team announced on its X account May 28. “Teddy was a coach, a mentor, a husband, a friend, and will always be – a legend. Please keep his wife Vickie, all of his siblings, and the 3132 family in your thoughts and prayers.”
“3132 family” refers to two former UA players who died of brain cancer.
Wolford stepped down after the 2016 season, which UA appropriately capped with a title-game victory over Cleveland St. Ignatius, and was succeeded by one of his former players, Kyle Olson, while remaining on staff as an assistant.
Olson coached UA to its most recent championship in 2022.
Before taking over as head coach, Wolford was an assistant for 11 seasons at UA and coached at both of the district’s middle schools, Hastings and Jones.
UA named its field “Ted Wolford Field” on July 2, 2017.
You must be registered for see images attach
Flowers were placed next to his name on the turf for the UA girls team’s Division I, Region 3 final against Dublin Coffman on May 28, and a moment of silence was scheduled.
The boys team will take the same field May 29 for the Region 3 final against New Albany.
Several central Ohio lacrosse teams shared condolences on social media.
“The Watterson lacrosse family would like to send our deepest condolences to the Wolford family and the Upper Arlington lacrosse community on the passing of Coach Ted Wolford,” the team posted on its X account. “An amazing man and vital part of the central Ohio lacrosse community who will be sorely missed.”
Watterson is coached by UA graduate Chris Sauter.
A post from Kilbourne’s X account read: “Coach Wolford was an amazing coach, mentor, and friend. We are holding his wife, Vickie, the entire Wolford family, and the 3132 Family close to our hearts. You are in all of our thoughts and prayers. We will forever miss you on the sideline, Teddy!”
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at [email protected] and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Upper Arlington lacrosse coach Ted Wolford dies at 66
Continue reading...
