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Joey Wolfe was the head football coach at Daphne High School when he first met Steve Savarese, the former executive director of the AHSAA.
This week, Savarese declared, “I love JoJo.” When we initially came to Spanish Fort, my wife and I lived a few houses down from his family. Joey would periodically stop by to say hi, and one day he was simply in our home. We need to get Joey something to do, I remarked. “I love you, coach,” he would remark as he entered. He still does.
In the 1990s, Savarese asked Wolfe to assist with the Daphne football squad.
Since then, Mr. Trojan, as he is now lovingly known, has continued to assist not only at Baldwin County High School but also throughout the city.
Regarding his 50-year-old son, Perry Wolfe stated, “Obviously, he has some handicaps.” Joey converses with everyone despite not being able to read, write, or tell time. He is familiar with every child’s number. He is everyone’s friend, and everyone is his friend.
In 1996, Wolfe received a certificate of graduation from Daphne. One of his classmates back then? Kenny King is the current head coach of Daphne.
According to King, Joey has been a part of the program for a long time. He never fails to show up. Every day, from dawn to dusk, he is there. I speak every single day. I constantly remind the guys that if JoJo, who is in his 50s, can demonstrate what it is to be proud of your school every day, then you can do the same.
Wolfe is referred to as Daphne’s head baseball and football manager. If you’re at a Daphne athletic event, you can easily notice him.
According to Perry Wolfe, he always wears purple and gold. He is dressed in those Daphne hues when we attend church.
With the exception of the two years his family spent in Louisiana, Wolfe has been a mainstay on the Daphne sidelines for thirty years. Both the Baldwin County Coaches Hall of Fame and the Daphne High Hall of Fame have already enshrined him.
Glenn Vickery, who succeeded Savarese as head coach of Daphne in 2004, stated, “I first met Joey when he was a student in the early days when I was coaching basketball and teaching.” Joey was a constant presence in our lives when I was promoted to head football coach. At 7:30, he would arrive at the fieldhouse. Like the rest of us, he would depart for lunch to assist in the cafeteria before returning at 6:30 to head home. He loves Daphne High School very much and has a beautiful personality, heart, and attitude. Being with him is indeed a blessing.
According to Perry Wolfe, when younger players who were just starting the Daphne program would occasionally make fun of JoJo, the team’s upperclassmen would quickly put an end to it.
He remarked, “As a parent, I never had to worry about him going up there.” The players and coaches go above and beyond to ensure his safety. There is never a bad day for JoJo. According to him, the only unpleasant days he has are when Daphne loses. He sleeps, eats, and drinks at Daphne High School.
According to Savarese, Wolfe is not the only person who has gained knowledge over the past three decades.
He stated, “Everyone believes we did something for Joey.” We’ve all come to realize that Joey’s love, compassion, humility, and, most importantly, his love for being a Daphne Trojan have taught us far more than we ever taught him.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: This article was first published in the Thursday high school newsletters on AL.com. Please visital.com/newsletters to sign up. The newsletters contain polls, trivia, and much more every week.
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