Buckeye Reporter

Bowling Green State University inducted Michael R. Wilcox into its Academy of Distinguished Alumni at a ceremony held in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union's Lenhart Grand Ballroom. The Academy, established in 2011, is one of the university’s highest honors and recognizes alumni for significant achievements that reflect positively on BGSU and their communities.

Wilcox serves as chairman and CEO of Wilcox Financial/Wilcox Sports Management. He was one of three honorees in the 2025 class, alongside Susan P. Mucciarone and John M. Starcher Jr. All were recognized during Homecoming Week for leadership, impact, and service.

“A nationally respected leader in financial services, Wilcox has spent five decades building a reputation for integrity, insight and excellence. Through Wilcox Financial and Wilcox Sports Management, he provides elite financial and strategic guidance to high-net-worth individuals, corporations, professional athletes, university leaders and entrepreneurs across the country and in 12 nations. His work has earned him global recognition, including membership in the Top of the Table for 46 consecutive years, placing him among the top one-tenth of one percent of financial service professionals worldwide.”

As a student-athlete at BGSU, Wilcox achieved three-time lacrosse All-American status and served twice as team captain. He is also a member of both the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame and BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Wilcox’s ongoing support for BGSU includes a notable gift with his wife Jan that endowed the Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach position—the first such endowed coaching title in Mid-American Conference history.

“Wilcox joins a prestigious group of BGSU alumni-athletes previously honored in the Academy, including Bernie Casey (football and track), Antonio Daniels (men's basketball), George McPhee (hockey), Jack Williams (football), Brenda Hollis (women's basketball), and others who have excelled in their professions and represented BGSU with distinction.”

He has contributed service on several national boards such as the Fiesta Bowl Board, Culver Academies Board, Lou Holtz Hall of Fame Board, as well as serving as chair of the BGSU Board of Trustees. He resides with his wife Jan in Toledo; their children Ben and Sarah are involved with family businesses.

“The Academy of Distinguished Alumni underscores the University's commitment to celebrating graduates whose lives embody the BGSU spirit of excellence, service and leadership.”

The list includes other former student-athletes from various sports who have been inducted into this academy over previous years.