Dutch Dehnert
Henry G. "Dutch" Dehnert (April 5, 1898 – April 20, 1979) was an American basketball player whose career lasted from 1915 to 1935.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 5, 1898 New York City, New York |
| Died | April 20, 1979 (aged 81) Far Rockaway, New York |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| Playing career | 1926–1930 |
| Position | Forward / Center |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1926–1928 | Original Celtics |
| 1928–1930 | Cleveland Rosenblums |
| As coach: | |
| 1940–1941 | Detroit Eagles |
| 1944–1946 | Sheboygan Red Skins |
| 1946–1947 | Cleveland Rebels |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As head coach:
| |
| Basketball Hall of Fame as player | |
Dehnert, a bulky forward born in New York City, New York, is mostly known for his time with the Original Celtics and is sometimes credited with inventing the pivot play. He later coached several teams in the NBL, ABL and BAA.
One of those teams Dehnert coached was the Sheboygan Red Skins, who won NBL divisional titles in 1944-45 and 1945-46 under Dehnert's guidance. Dehnert's greatest coup during his time in Sheboygan was his signing of three East Coast stars: Al Lucas of Fordham, Al Moschetti of St. John's and Bobby Holm of Seton Hall. Buoyed by this added strength, the Red Skins took a 2-0 lead over the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons in the 1945 NBL championship series, only to be swept in the remaining three games. In 1946, Dehnert led Sheboygan to a meeting with the vaunted Rochester Royals in the championship series. Rochester swept the Red Skins. The next season, Dehnert became first head coach of the Cleveland Rebels for the Basketball Association of America's first season.[1]
He was the uncle of Providence Steamrollers player Red Dehnert.[2]
References
- "Dehnert to Coach Cleveland Cagers". Toledo Blade. June 21, 1946. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
- "Brooklyn Youngsters Win Y.M.C.A Tourney Opener" (PDF). Daily Sentinel. Rome, New York. March 14, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
Further reading
- Peterson, Robert W. (2002). "The Rise of the Original Celtics". Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. pp. 69–79. ISBN 0-8032-8772-0.