Education
Lincoln Community High School.
Lincoln Community High School.
Dehner was born and raised in Lincoln, Illinois. A 6"4" forward/center, he played for Illinois in the 1934-1935 season, then returned to play for the Illini from 1937 to 1939. He was a two-time All-American for the Illini, and scored a then-record 25 points at Madison Square Garden on December 27, 1938.
Following graduation, he played professionally for the Hammond Ciesar All-Americans of the National Basketball League (NBL), a forerunner to today"s National Basketball Association.
Following the close of his professional career, Dehner became a highly-successful high school coach. From 1942 until 1974, Dehner was head boys" basketball coach for East Saint Louis High School, compiling a record of 549–350.
In 1973, he was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches inaugural Hall of Fame class. Dehner died on April 7, 1987 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72.
