BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green State University officially inducted Michael R. Wilcox into its Academy of Distinguished Alumni during a ceremony Thursday evening, inside the Bowen-Thompson Student Union's Lenhart Grand Ballroom. Established in 2011, the Academy represents one of the University's highest honors, recognizing alumni whose extraordinary achievements reflect positively on their alma mater and communities.

Wilcox, chairman and CEO of Wilcox Financial/Wilcox Sports Management, was one of three honorees in the 2025 class, joining Susan P. Mucciarone '79 and John M. Starcher Jr. '93. Together, they were recognized during Homecoming Week festivities for their exceptional leadership, impact and service. Wilcox is one of 98 distinguished BGSU alumni to receive this extraordinary honor and is the 21st former Falcon student-athlete to be inducted.

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 BGSU student-athlete, Wilcox was a three-time lacrosse All-American and two-time captain, later earning induction into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the BGSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Beyond athletics, his deep connection to the University has remained a hallmark of his life's work. He and his wife, Jan, made history with a transformational gift that endowed the Mike and Jan Wilcox Head Football Coach position – the first 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.

A dedicated servant-leader, Wilcox has served on numerous national and community boards, including the Fiesta Bowl, Culver Academies, Lou Holtz Hall of Fame and previously as chair of the BGSU Board of Trustees. He and Jan reside in Toledo, where they raised their two children, Ben and Sarah – both of whom are active in the family's 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.

BGSU Letterwinner Inductees into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni

• Bernard T. Casey  – Football, Track
• Antonio R. Daniels  – Men's Basketball
• Crystal W. Ellis – Men's Basketball
• Peter H. Englehart – Men's Lacrosse
• Richard H. Hagemeyer – Men's Basketball
• Brenda J. Hollis – Women's Basketball
• Kempton B. Jenkins – Men's Tennis
• A. Gary Kovacs – Men's Soccer
• Kermit L. Long – Track
• George A. McPhee – Ice Hockey
• John T. Mitchell – Baseball
• Charles E. Perry – Football
• Theodore A. Reyman – Football
• Robert Rothermel – Cross Country
• Thomas M. Shehab – Football
• Clifford A. Stevenson – Football, Basketball
• Paul W. Stiffler – Swimming
• Michael R. Wilcox – Men's Lacrosse
• Ben Williams – Men's Basketball
• Jack Williams – Football
• Paul D. Woodring  – Track