Dennis Wolff

  • Dennis
  • Wolff

  • Head Coach
    Women's Basketball

Dennis Wolff was named the sixth head women’s basketball coach at Virginia Tech on March 22, 2011.

In 2015, the Hokies went on a historic run in the ACC Tournament, advancing to the quarterfinal round for the first time since joining the league 10 years ago. Tech knocked of NC State in the opening round, picking up the Hokies first win over the Wolfpack in program history and recording their first post-season win since 2006-07. In the second round, the Hokies defeated Pittsburgh before falling to 2015 NCAA Elite Eight team, Florida State in the quarters. Sophomore Vanessa Panousis was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 16 points en route to setting the Virginia Tech single-season three-pointers made record.

Quick Facts
Seasons at VTFive Seasons
Overall Record61-93 (.396) Games: 154
ACC Record17-65 (.207) Games: 82
vs. Non-Conference44-28 (.611) Games: 72
vs. Ranked Teams4-28 (.125) Games: 32
Record Home43-41 (.512) Games: 84
Record Away16-46 (.258) Games: 62
Record Neutral2-6 (.250) Games: 8
Career Record61-93 (.396) Games: 154

The Hokies continued to improve under Wolff during his third year at the helm. Finishing 14-16 overall, Tech recorded its best finish since the 2009-10 season. The Hokies also boasted a win over then-ranked No. 11 North Carolina on the road, marking the programs first win in Chapel Hill. In addition, the Hokies defeated NCAA teams Florida, Michigan State and Robert Morris. Wolff also coached Uju Ugoka to All-ACC Second Team honors in 2014.

During Wolff’s second season, the Hokies picked up a big win over a top-25 opponent, defeating then-19th ranked Florida State with a decisive 71-52 win over the Seminoles in Cassell Coliseum. The win snapped an eight game skid against FSU. Tech also improved in its overall and ACC record under Wolff’s leadership. 

In his inaugural season with the Hokies, Wolff guided Virginia Tech to an improved ACC record that featured a milestone win over then-ranked No. 8 Maryland. Tech’s win over the 2012 ACC Champion Terrapins marked the first time in over a decade that the Hokies have defeated a team ranked eighth or better and just the third time in team history.

Wolff was also inducted in to the Basketball Old Timers of America Hall of Fame.

Prior to accepting the women’s head coaching position, Wolff served one season as the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations & Assistant to the Head Coach for the Virginia Tech men’s basketball program. He assisted head coach Seth Greenberg in the day-to-day operations of the basketball program and also took on additional duties to better reflect a change in NCAA rules governing the operations position.

Before coming to Virginia Tech, Wolff served as the head men’s basketball coach at Boston University from 1994-2009. Under Wolff’s guidance, the Terriers won three straight conference titles (2002-2004) and made four consecutive postseason appearances (2002-05) for the first time in school history. He was a three-time America East Coach of the Year and a two-time NABC District 1 Coach of the Year selection.

“I am very excited that Dennis Wolff has accepted our offer to become the head women’s basketball coach at Virginia Tech,” said Tech Director of Athletics Jim Weaver. “Coach Wolff has a great history of successful head coaching experience, and I have had the opportunity to get to know and observe him during this academic year. I believe he fits very nicely into the Virginia Tech athletics family and that he will return our women’s program to the winning ways of recent years.”

Wolff was 247-197 (.556) in 15 years at BU, and is the school’s all-time leader in victories. Including two years at Connecticut College in the early 1980s, Wolff is 277-215 (.563) in 17 years as a head coach.

Wolff arrived at BU following a four-year (1990-94) stint as an assistant coach under head coach Jeff Jones at the University of Virginia. Prior to his tenure at Virginia, Wolff spent four years (1985-89) as an assistant coach at Wake Forest and one year (1989-90) at Southern Methodist University.

Wolff began his coaching career at Trinity College, a Division III school in Hartford, Conn., where he served as an assistant from 1978-80. At the age of 25, he was named the head coach at Connecticut College and guided the Camels to a two-year mark of 30-18, including a successful 16-8 record in 1980-81, his first year as a head coach. In 1982, he began his first of three years as an assistant coach at St. Bonaventure. In the last year, Wolff has been involved in the USO Operation Hardwood in Iraq and the USO Operation Hoop Talk in Afghanistan.

A 1978 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Wolff was a two-year letterman under head coaches Dee Rowe and Dom Perno after transferring from Louisiana State University in 1975. A native of New York City, Wolff was a standout guard for Holy Cross High School. In recognition of his scholastic efforts, Wolff has since been inducted into the Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame.

Wolff and his wife JoAnn have three children: Nicole, Matt, and Michael.