Who is Dinah Mattingly? Get to know Larry Bird's wife

Who is Dinah Mattingly? Get to know Larry Bird's wife

Dinah Mattingly, the wife of Larry Bird, sparked his belief in love and marriage again after he divorced his first wife. The basketball legend once expressed his scepticism about marriage in 1988 by saying:

When I was a kid, I thought people who divorced were the devil. And then I go out and do it myself. Getting married was the worst mistake I ever made.
Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly
Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird during the 2019 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019, in Santa Monica (L). Photo: Joe Scarnic/Michael Kovac (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird have been married for over three and a half decades. 
  • The couple is passionate about philanthropy.
  • They adopted two children in the early 1990s.
  • Dinah is an Indiana native and that is where she met Larry.

Dinah Mattingly's profile summary

Full nameDinah Mattingly
Date of birthNovember 16, 1954
Age70 years old as of 2025
Place of birthVigo County, Indiana, United States
Current residenceNaples, Florida, United States
NationalityAmerican
Religion Christian
Marital statusMarried
HusbandNBA legend Larry Bird (1989 to date)
ChildrenMariah and Connor (both adopted) Corrie Bird
EducationIndiana State University
Profession Former physical education teacher, philanthropist
Known forBeing Larry Bird’s wife

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What does Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly do for a living?

Dinah worked as a physical education teacher at North Side High School in French Lick, Indiana. She has dedicated her life to charitable causes alongside her husband.

Larry Bird and Dinah have contributed to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and supported multiple cancer research and treatment efforts. The Hall of Famer revealed in October 2014 during The Annual Pacers’ fundraiser called The Masquerade that he does not make donations for publicity, adding:

You try to do as much as you can. It depends on timing, but my wife and I try to do as much as we can - You never do enough...So spread pretty thin at times, but you’ve got to give back. That’s what it’s all about.
Dinah Mattingly facts
Five facts about Larry Bird's wife, Dinah Mattingly. Photo: Nathaniel S.Butler on Getty Images (modified by author)
Source: Original

Where is Dinah Mattingly from?

Dinah was born on November 16, 1954 (70 years as of 2025) in Vigo County, Indiana. She studied at Indiana State University, where she was active in sports and fitness.

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How did Larry Bird meet his wife, Dinah?

Larry Bird and Dinah Mattingly met at Indiana State University in the late 1970s. They became friends before their relationship turned romantic.

The couple tied the knot about a decade later on October 31, 1989. Their wedding ceremony was held at a friend’s house in Terre Haute, Indiana. The bride and groom wore stonewashed jeans and exchanged vows in front of five people.

Dinah Bird at the Market Square Arena
Dinah Bird watches during Larry Bird's press conference at Market Square Arena on Monday, May 12, 1997. Photo: Jonathan Wiggs
Source: Getty Images

Dinah Mattingly and Don Mattingly are not related despite sharing the same last names and coming from Indiana. Don is a former first baseman and has been the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball since 2023.

Who are Larry Bird's children?

The former Boston Celtics forward and his wife Dinah adopted two kids. Mariah Bird joined the family in 1991, while son Connor Bird was adopted a year later in 1992.

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Mariah has a degree in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management from Indiana University. Larry is also a father to daughter Corrie Bird, who was born in August 1977 from his first marriage.

Corrie graduated from Indiana State University in 1999 with a degree in Elementary Education and later obtained an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. She married Trent Theopolis Batson in 2008 and has two kids.

Larry Bird and Dinah Mattingly at Bob Woolf's funeral
Larry Bird and his wife Dinah Mattingly at the funeral of Bob Woolf in Brookline, Boston, December 3, 1993 (L). Photo: Jim Davis/Stacy Revere (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Who is Larry Bird's first wife?

Larry Bird married his childhood friend Janet Condra in 1975 when he was only 19 years old. He has just enrolled at Indiana State University.

Their marriage did not last long, as they separated one year later in October 1976. They tried to reconcile, but it did not work out.

Janet and Bird’s failed marriage affected Larry’s relationship with daughter Corrie who he had denied until a paternity test proved he was the father. In his memoir, Drive: The Story of My Life, the former NBA star writes,

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I can't honestly say I've had much to do with her life because of my differences with Janet. I think about Corrie all the time...Her mother has done a great job bringing her up in the best way possible – She's good at everything she does, and I'm really proud of her. To tell you the truth, I've never really known how to handle the situation, but I love her, and anytime Corrie needs anything, I will be there for her.
Dinah Mattingly in 1988
Dinah Mattingly during the game between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers on February 3, 1988. Photo: George Tiedemann/Ron Hoskins (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Where does the Larry Bird currently live?

Larry Bird’s family resides in Naples, Florida. The former NBA star purchased the 6,007-square-foot waterfront mansion in 1998 and custom-built it in 2001. 

The Naples home features four bedrooms, six bathrooms, a boat dock, and an infinity pool. Larry listed it in 2013 for $4.8 million before taking it off the market in 2019.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer owns another home in Indianapolis. It is a 10,000-square-foot Tudor-style house with 6.5 bathrooms and five bedrooms. The mansion was custom-built in 2002 and was put on the market in 2019 for $2.35 million.

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What is Larry Bird doing today?

Larry is a consultant for the Indiana Pacers. He was the team’s President of Basketball Operations until 2017 and served in an advisory capacity until 2022. Bird joined the Pacers in 1997 as a coach before taking on executive roles in 2000.

Larry Bird at Symphony Hall
Larry Bird looks on during the 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 7, 2018, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Photo: Maddie Meyer
Source: Getty Images

Dinah Mattingly has been a supportive figure in Larry Bird’s life since the late 1970s. She chose to stay out of the spotlight, despite her husband’s legendary status in the National Basketball Association.

READ ALSO: Facts about Tony Vitello

Briefly.co.za shared facts about Tennessee Volunteers coach Tony Vitello. He joined the Volunteers in 2017 and led them to their first-ever national title in 2024 when they won the College World Series Championships.

Vitello had a brief playing career as a college infielder before he dedicated his life to coaching baseball in the early 2000s. He learnt a lot from his father, who is a Hall of Fame high school soccer and baseball coach.

Source: Briefly News

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Ruth Gitonga (Lifestyle writer) Ruth Gitonga has a background experience in Mass Communication for over six years. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with a degree in Mass Communication in December 2014. In 2023, Ruth finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has worked for Briefly.co.za for five years now. She specializes in topics like lifestyle, entertainment, travel, technology, and sports. Email: gitongaruth14@gmail.com.

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Alice Wabwile (Lifestyle writer) Alice Wabwile is a multifaceted content creator and Project Assistant at AfDAN, boasting over four years of experience. Holding a BCom degree from the University of Nairobi School of Business, she has cultivated a dynamic skill set through roles such as her tenure at Strathmore University's Data Science Department, where she contributed significantly to research. Recognized for her exceptional talent, she clinched the Writer of the Year Award. Beyond her professional endeavours, Alice is an engaged member of the Rotaract Club of Kabete. For inquiries, reach out to her at alicenjoro01@gmail.com

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