UCLA Athletics has received a significant gift to the women’s soccer program from the family of Karen and Rick Wolfen. The gift will endow the head coach’s position, which will now be known as The Wolfen Family UCLA Women’s Head Soccer Coach.
Karen and Rick Wolfen each earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at UCLA, with Karen receiving a JD, and Rick earning an MBA.
“A gift like this represents one of the most meaningful commitments a donor can make to the long-term success of a program,” said Martin Jarmond, UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics. “Rick and Karen’s generosity reflects their belief in the excellence of UCLA Women’s Soccer and in the impact our student-athletes have on campus and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and commitment to helping our program continue to excel.”
“The Wolfen Family’s commitment is a tremendous investment in the future of UCLA Women’s Soccer,” said Gof Boyoko, The Wolfen Family UCLA Women’s Head Soccer Coach. “Their passion for the game and deep understanding of what it takes to build a championship program make this partnership especially meaningful. Their belief in our student-athletes and our vision reflects what makes this program so special. This endowment will help provide our players with the resources, support and championship environment they need to thrive both on and off the field. We are incredibly grateful to the Wolfen Family for their generosity and for choosing to be such an important part of the Bruins’ future.”
The gift will create far-reaching opportunities, elevating the student-athlete experience by providing access to elite training resources, innovative technology and program enhancements both on and off the field. Most importantly, it will help empower the student-athletes to compete at the highest level while developing as leaders, scholars and representatives of the UCLA tradition of excellence.
“We feel passionate about supporting UCLA because, for starters, it’s where we met,” said Karen Wolfen. “We are both double Bruins with undergrad and graduate degrees. Our deep connection to UCLA came from our parents and lives on in our kids. UCLA fosters excellence in every area—the sciences, humanities, arts and athletics—benefitting all of its students, our community and far beyond. We feel privileged to get to support that excellence. We love UCLA!”
“Having coached and taught kids in youth sports for nearly 50 years, including the last 25-plus years coaching my two daughters and other girls in soccer, I have seen firsthand all the life lessons that are learned through the game,” added Rick Wolfen. “Our hope is that this gift will give the players incredibly valuable tools they can use on the pitch and take with them as they move into the world beyond UCLA.”
For more information about supporting UCLA student-athletes, contact the UCLA Athletics Development Office at 310-206-3302 or visit woodenathleticfund.com.