| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1897-08-03)August 3, 1897 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 1980(1980-05-20) (aged 82) |
| Playing career | |
| Basketball | |
| 1926–1927 | Baltimore Orioles |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1930–1938 | St. John's (MD) |
| 1939–1943 | Army |
| 1947–1951 | Second Army |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1919–1921 | St. John's (MD) |
| 1921–1930 | Calvert Hall |
| 1930–1939 | St. John's (MD) |
Valentine William "Dutch"Lentz (August 3, 1897 – May 20, 1980) was an American athlete and coach who was the head men's basketball coachSt. John's College inAnnapolis, Maryland, and theUnited States Military Academy inWest Point, New York.
Lentz was born inBaltimore on August 3, 1897 to William and Julianna (Stahl) Lentz. He was a member of the track, soccer, football, baseball, basketball, and rifle teamsBaltimore Polytechnic Institute. He was on the football, baseball, track, and basketball teams at St. John's College. He graduated in 1918 and spent a year in the military, where he was a member of the camp basketball and boxing teams. Lentz played baseball with theReading Aces,Buffalo Bisons,Easton Farmers, andCambridge Canners, and professional basketball with the Baltimore Orioles, and soccer with the Patapsco Rangers.[1]
Lentz was the athletic director at St. John's College from 1919 to 1921. He then held the same position atCalvert Hall College High School.[1] He returned to St. John's in 1930 as athletic director, head basketball coach, and assistant football coach. His 1933–34 team won the Maryland Collegiate Championship.[2] In 1938, St. John's dropped its intercollegiate athletic program and Lentz resigned effective the following June.[3]
On October 10, 1939, Lentz was named head coach of theArmy Cadets men's basketball team.[4] In his four seasons in West Point, Letz compiled a 39–39 record.[5]
In 1942, Lentz, who had been a reserve officer since 1918, was called to active duty and appointed supply officer of the West Point Station Hospital.[6] DuringWorld War II, he served inNorth Africa andItaly.[7][8]
In 1947, Lentz was named manager of theSecond Army baseball team.[9] He also coached the unit's basketball team.[10]
During theKorean War, Lentz was the commander of the Army and Air Force Recruiting and Induction Main Station inAlexandria, Virginia.[11]