Dutch Dehnert
Cleveland Rebels Head Coach | Basketball Hall of Fame Player | BAA Coach
Dutch Dehnert was born on April 5, 1898, in New York, New York. He became one of the leading professional basketball players of the pre-NBA era and was later inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Dehnert became the first head coach of the Cleveland Rebels during the inaugural 1946-1947 Basketball Association of America (BAA) season. He coached 37 games before Roy Clifford took over the team.
Dehnert finished his BAA head coaching career with a 17-20 record.
Coach Dehnert passed away on April 20, 1979, at the age of 81.
- Overall Coaching Record: 17-20
Coaching Career
Dutch Dehnert became the first head coach of the Cleveland Rebels when the franchise joined the Basketball Association of America for the league’s inaugural season.
Dehnert coached 37 games and went 17-20 before the Rebels made a coaching change during the season. He was replaced by Roy Clifford, who went 13-10 over the final 23 games.
Cleveland finished the season with a 30-30 record and reached the BAA playoffs. The Rebels were eliminated by the New York Knickerbockers in 3 games in the opening round.
The 1946-1947 season became Dehnert’s only BAA/NBA head coaching season and the only season in Cleveland Rebels franchise history.
Notable Players Coached
- Kenny Sailors
- 1943 NCAA Champion
- 1943 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Ed Sadowski
- 1948 All-BAA First Team
- Future BAA Head Coach