A native of Oak Park, Illinois, Uteritz was the quarterback for the Oak Park and River Forest High School football team coached by Glenn Thistlethwaite, who later became the head football coach at Northwestern.
[1] In 1920, Uteritz enrolled at the University of Michigan where he played quarterback from 1921 to 1923, leading the Wolverines to back-to-back undefeated football seasons in 1922 and 1923.
He was considered a "triple threat" player who had "about equal ability in kicking, forward passing and carrying the ball.
[6][7][8][9] His first game as a starter was a 3–0 win over Illinois in which Frank Steketee scored the only points on a field goal.
Near the end of the second quarter, Uteritz intercepted a pass at Michigan's 41-yard line and ran the ball back 59 yards going "through the entire team for a touchdown."
After the Ohio State game, nationally syndicated sports writer Billy Evans called Uteritz a "star" and wrote that he was handling the team "in a brainy fashion.
"[13] A Wisconsin newspaper called Uteritz "one of the headiest pilots in the Big Ten" and noted that he always knows who should carry the ball and "his judgment at all times is excellent.
"[14] After shutting out Illinois (24–0) and Michigan Agricultural (63–0), the Wolverines had a bye week before playing Wisconsin.
Yost used the bye week for another scouting trip, traveling with Uteritz, Harry Kipke and Paul G. Goebel to Madison, Wisconsin to watch the Badgers play.
[15] The following week, Michigan defeated Wisconsin 13–6, and Uteritz completed a pass to Harry Kipke in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in the game.
He also handled punts well, but called for free catches oftener than he attempted to run with the ball.
Uteritz scored a touchdown in the second quarter, diving between center Jack Blott's legs to cross the goal-line.
In the fourth quarter, Uteritz "limped perceptibly" after a hard tackle, but remained in the game until Michigan's trainer ordered him off the field.
On learning that Uteritz would be unable to play in the remaining games, Coach Yost told reporters, "There goes half the football team.
[29][30] After receiving his degree from Michigan, Uteritz spent the rest of his life working as a football and baseball coach.
[35] The Washington University football team had a record of 18–18 in the four years that Uteritz was the head coach.
[36] Uteritz also served as the head baseball coach at Washington University for 11 seasons, in 1948 and from 1954 to 1963, compiling a record of 162–66.