Skip to content

38-year-old bus driver makes college basketball team after dropping 50 lbs

Barry Hayes‏/Twitter

Dan Stoddard, a 38-year-old bus driver and father of two teenagers, was 380 pounds when he was approached about trying out for the Algonquin College men's basketball team in Ottawa, Ontario. Six months later, and 50 pounds lighter, he's on the team.

The 6-foot-8 Stoddard - or "Old Man Dan," as he's affectionately known - first caught the attention of Algonquin Thunder head coach Trevor Costello when the latter was refereeing an alumni tournament, according to Kelly Egan of the Ottawa Citizen. He whipped himself into shape while maintaining a full-time job and online course load, and has quickly become a fan favorite.

"We played an exhibition game against last year's national champs," Stoddard told Egan on Wednesday. "I scored a basket, they called out my name (on a loud speaker) and I could have cried on the floor."

- With h/t to Sports Illustrated

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox