Dean Uthoff

Dean Uthoff
Personal information
Born (1958-07-07) July 7, 1958 (age 68)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
Listed height
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight
250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolJefferson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
CollegeIowa State (1976–1980)
1980: 6th round, 129th overall pick
Drafted bySan Antonio Spurs
Playing career
1983–1996
PositionCenter
Career history
1983–1985Nunawading Spectres
1986–1987Dandenong Rangers
1988–1991Eastside Spectres
1992–1996Sydney Kings
Career highlights
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Dean Allen Uthoff (born July 7, 1958) is an American-Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones. Uthoff spent his entire professional career in Australia where he played for the Nunawading / Eastside Spectres and Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). Nicknamed the "Man Mountain", he was a prolific rebounder and holds NBL records for most rebounds in a game with 34 and the highest rebounding season average with 18.5 per game.

High school career

Uthoff played basketball at Jefferson High School in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His career totals of 1,010 points and 919 rebounds are school records. On April 19, 1976, Uthoff signed to play college basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones.

College career

Uthoff averaged a team-high 11.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game during his freshman season with the Iowa State Cyclones in 1976–77. The season was considered[by whom?] the "greatest freshman season in Cyclone basketball history" and head coach Lynn Nance described Uthoff as "the best freshman center in the country this year."

Uthoff was selected to the All-Big Eight Conference first-team in 1978. He led the Big Eight in rebounding all four seasons he played. Uthoff is the all-time leading rebounder for Iowa State and the Big Eight Conference with 1,233 career rebounds.

Uthoff was inducted into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

Professional career

Uthoff attended training camp with the San Antonio Spurs in 1980 but did not make the team. He returned to the Spurs for preseason camp in 1981. On October 31, Uthoff was waived by the Spurs after he appeared in four exhibition games. He had considered his basketball career over when he was contacted by the parents of his Iowa State teammate Chuck Harmison who encouraged him to play in Australia. Harmison had played for the Nunawading Spectres of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1982 and Uthoff decided to join after talking to team officials.

Uthoff joined the Spectres in 1983 where he played alongside two fellow Iowans in Harmison and Ron Lemons. He ranked second in the league for total rebounds during his first season. After two successful seasons with the Spectres, Uthoff suffered a slipped disc and was kept from playing for a year. He tried to return in 1986 but was still troubled by the injury and released by the Spectres. Uthoff spent the next two seasons with the Dandenong Rangers in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL).

After Uthoff originally signed to play for the North Melbourne Giants, he reneged and returned to the renamed Eastside Spectres in 1988. He finished third in voting for the NBL Most Valuable Player Award and was named to the All-NBL Second Team in 1989. Uthoff led the Spectres to the NBL Grand Final in 1991.

On November 21, 1991, Uthoff signed with the Sydney Kings. He retired in 1995 but returned to the Kings in 1996 as a replacement for the injured Justin Withers.

Uthoff led the NBL in rebounding for three seasons. He averaged 18.5 rebounds per game during the 1984 season which is an NBL record. Uthoff also holds the NBL record for most rebounds in a game with 34. He was described as "perhaps the best" rebounder to ever play in the NBL. Uthoff was nicknamed the "Man Mountain" during his NBL career.

Personal life

Uthoff became a naturalized Australian citizen in 1987. He met his wife, Sylvia, when he first moved to Australia. Uthoff and Sylvia have a son.

Uthoff is related to basketball player Jarrod Uthoff.

References

  1. ↑ "Dean Allen Uthoff () - Basketball Stats, Height, Age". FIBA Basketball. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  2. 1 2 Hersom, Bob (April 11, 1976). "Where Will Dean Uthoff Play?". The Gazette. p. 77. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Hersom, Bob (April 10, 1977). "Dean Uthoff Talks About Pros, Gaining Weight". The Gazette. p. 56. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dean Uthoff (2022)". Iowa State Athletics. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  5. ↑ O'Keeffe, Kevin (July 24, 1980). "Spurs offer bids to 4 fledglings". San Antonio Express-News. p. 67. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Hutton, Jim (July 30, 1981). "Spurs invite 6 to fall camp as Banks stars". San Antonio Express-News. p. 91. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "San Antonio puts Uthoff on waivers". The Muscatine Journal. October 31, 1981. p. 8. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cager Uthoff causing big stir 'down under'". The Des Moines Register. November 22, 1983. p. 18. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Blake, Martin (June 11, 1988). "Uthoff battles back for a big season". The Age. p. 37. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Brown, Michelle (October 30, 1989). "Gaze finds little consolation in coaching award". The Age. p. 31. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "Sydney Kings sign up Uthoff for three years". The Age. November 22, 1991. p. 30. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Cowley, Michael (March 13, 1996). "Big Dean to Kings' rescue". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 44. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Smith, Heather (May 18, 1992). "Barcelona is a magnet for Man Mountain". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 31. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Hansen, Marc (September 24, 2000). "Harmison, Uthoff find their niche in Aussie hoops". The Des Moines Register. p. 37. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Chapman, Ric (October 11, 1992). "The King of Courage". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 72. Retrieved October 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Uthoff surging for Prairie wrestlers". The Gazette. January 22, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2026.