Dinah Mattingly is the second wife of the basketball legend Larry Bird. No one doubts that she’s among the main reasons behind his success.
She has an undeniable influence on her husband’s personal and professional life. The wife and mother keeps a low profile, as she leads a quiet life away from the spotlight.
Unlike most wives of famous athletes, Mattingly doesn’t have much of a social media presence. She prefers to remain out of the limelight, but this post provides in-depth information about her.
Dinah Mattingly’s Profile Summary
Here’s a quick overview of this amazing lady’s profile:
| Full Name | Dinah Mattingly |
| Age | 69 (as of November 2023) |
| Place of Birth | Vigo County, Indiana |
| Current Residence | West Baden Springs, Indiana |
| Height | 5′ 5″ |
| Weight | 137 lbs |
| Siblings | Doug Mattingly |
| Spouse | Larry Bird |
| Children | Mariah Bird (Adopted)
Conner Bird (Adopted) |
Dinah Mattingly’s Early Life
Dinah Mattingly was born and raised in Indiana, alongside her only brother Doug Mattingly. She was born in Vigo County, Indiana on November 16th, 1954.
She graduated high school in Terre Haute, Indiana. Then, she got into Indiana State University, where she met her husband, Larry Bird.
Unfortunately, nothing much is known about her personal life. She has only risen to fame after marrying Larry Bird.
Despite her husband’s prominence, Dinah rarely makes it to major events or posts on social media. That’s why hardly anything about her parents, extended family, or college major is known.
Dinah Mattingly’s Family
Dinah Mattingly lives in Indiana with her husband and two adopted children, Mariah and Conner. She prefers being an ordinary mother. Thus, she focuses on her family rather than enjoying a life of fame.
Dinah and Larry adopted Mariah in 1991 after 2 years of marriage. She’s now a leading event manager for the Indiana Pacer, her father’s former team.
On the other hand, Conner has been the subject of negative public attention more than once. In February 2013, Conner was charged with attempted murder, as he tried to run over his ex-girlfriend. However, he got released due to lack of evidence.
In addition, he was accused of intimidation with weapons, possession of marijuana, and criminal mischief. Fortunately, he was released in a plea deal that entailed joining a monitoring program and staying out of trouble.
Dinah Mattingly’s Relation With Larry Bird
Dinah Mattingly and Larry Bird have been together for over 3 decades now. However, he has a story before her, as Mattingly is Larry Bird’s second wife.
In 1975, before Larry met Dinah, he got married to his high school sweetheart, Janet Condra. Yet, this marriage lasted only 1 year, after which Larry Bird returned to college and met Dinah in the late 70s.
After a long time together, Dinah and Larry got married in a private ceremony at a friend’s house in 1989. Since then, they’ve become inseparable.
They have no biological children, but they live happily and quietly with their two adopted children, Conner and Mariah.
Dinah Mattingly’s Influence on Larry Bird
Dinah Mattingly is more than just the woman behind Larry Bird’s success. She has actually managed to mend his relationship with his biological daughter from his first marriage, Corrie.
Corrie was born in 1977 after her parents’ divorce. Her father didn’t play any role in her life except sending child support. This sad reality has created a huge gap in their father-daughter relationship.
With her keen eye, Dinah realized that the sour relationship between Larry and his daughter was due to a lack of communication.
She recognized that Corrie tried to show her dad her talent in sports by sending him her progress reports over the years. Yet, he never gave her his attention. He didn’t even invite her to his retirement ceremony.
That’s where Mattingly started to bridge the gap between the father and his daughter. Dinah decided to take the first step.
She invited Corrie to attend a basketball game in which her father worked as a coach. This game was the launching point from which Corrie and her father made amends.
Conclusion
Little is known about the personal life of Dinah Mattingly, the wife of the former NBA star Larry Bird. She leads a private life as a wife and mother to two adopted children: Mariah and Conner.
Both natives of Indiana, Dinnah and Larry still live there after more than 30 years of marriage. Dinah has been a true influence on Larry’s career and success from the start.
Although she’s his second wife after his failed marriage with Janet Condra, Dinah managed to be a crucial part of his life. She even mended his relationship with his biological daughter, Corrie!
Clearly, Dinah Mattingly is an essential drive behind her husband’s legendary success. She sets an excellent example for a powerful and dependable woman and partner.
