Apex coach knows his way around town

When Hoggard plays Apex tonight in the second round of the 4AA high school football playoffs, a old Wilmington face will roam the opposing sideline at Hoggard Stadium.

Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Bob Wolfe spent two seasons as Laney coach and served as an assistant coach at Goldsboro and Eastern Wayne when both were in the Mideastern Conference.

After two dismal years at Laney in 1982-83, he says the program was on the verge of a turnaround, especially with a strong junior varsity team his final season.

But he resigned and entered the travel business, then resurfaced as an Apex assistant in 1994. Four days after he was hired, he was elevated to head coach.

After four losing seasons, he turned Apex around with 11 consecutive winning seasons.

“We have good players here year in and year out, but we don’t have the big-time athletes,’’ he said.

As for returning to the Port City, he hopes this trip is as sweet as the last in 2002, when Apex beat Laney in the playoffs.

Regardless of the outcome, don’t expect Wolfe to be back in Wilmington for anything more than football.

“I am a mountain person,’’ he said.

Chuck Carree: 343-2262

chuck.carree@starnewsonline.com