Ben Lindsey (basketball)
Lindsey in 1972
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| Sport(s) | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1965–1980 | Grand Canyon |
| 1982–1983 | Arizona |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 321-161 (.666) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2× NAIA Division I (1975, 1978) 6× NAIA District VII (1973–1976, 1979, 1980) |
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Ben Lindsey (born c. 1939) is a former collegiate basketball coach. During his 16 years as coach of Grand Canyon College he accumulated a 317–137 record and won two NAIA championships.
Lindsey attended Phoenix Union High School for two years where he was a three sport letterman (football, basketball and baseball). He transferred to Phoenix Christian High School for his final two years where he again was a three sport letterman.
In 1957, Lindsey began his college career at Pasadena Nazarene College (what is now known as Point Loma Nazarene University) where he played basketball and baseball and earned Freshman Athlete of the Year honors. In 1959, Lindsey transferred to Grand Canyon College (GCC) where he played three seasons of basketball and two seasons of baseball. Considered one of the top small college basketball players (Who's Who of Small College Basketball) at the time, he set five basketball scoring records, one of which remains to this day; that is, most field goals in a single game – 18.
Lindsey was hired by GCC Athletic Director, Dave Brazell, as the Head Basketball Coach in the Spring of 1965. At the time, GCC was a small Southern Baptist college with an enrollment of approximately 500. The basketball program's total budget at the time was $2,000 with no recruiting budget. Coach Lindsey had no assistant coach and, in addition to head coach, was the trainer, statistician, recruiter, academic advisor, hired officials, arranged score and clock keepers, swept the gym floor, and performed every other necessary role. In fact, his wife Jerri washed the team uniforms. It was not uncommon to visit the Lindsey household and see stacks of GCC basketball uniforms and warm-ups. As part of his GCC job, he had to teach 12 hours of classes (e.g., archery, golf, and kinesiology) per semester and also coached the tennis team.
Lindsey's post-season record was 30–9. He won the NAIA District VII Championship in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, and 1980. He won two NAIA National Championships in 1975 and 1978. His team also earned the 1975 tournament Sportsmanship Award...the only team to ever win the championship and sportsmanship award in the same year. GCC was the smallest college to ever win the NAIA Championship.
Lindsey was the first head basketball coach at an Arizona college or university to win a national championship. He is the only head coach in Arizona history to win two national championships. In addition, he was the youngest college/university coach to reach 300 wins, which he accomplished at age 40.
Lindsey produced five All-Americans and had three NBA draft picks.
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