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Ward Lambert

Ward Lambert
Ward Lambert 1942.jpeg
Sport(s) Football, basketball, baseball
Biographical details
Born (1888-05-28)May 28, 1888
Deadwood, South Dakota
Died January 20, 1958(1958-01-20) (aged 69)
Lafayette, Indiana
Playing career
Football
1909 Wabash
Basketball
1909–1911 Wabash
Baseball
c. 1910 Wabash
Position(s) Guard (basketball)
Shortstop (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
1912–1916 Lebanon HS
1916–1917 Purdue
1918–1946 Purdue
Baseball
1917 Purdue
1919–1935 Purdue
1945–1946 Purdue
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1946–1949 NBL (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall 371–152 (college basketball)
163–158–7 (college baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Basketball
1 Helms Athletic Foundation National (1932)
1 Premo-Porretta National (1932)
11 Big Ten
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1960 (profile)
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

Ward Louis "Piggy" Lambert (May 28, 1888 – January 20, 1958) was an American basketball and baseball coach. He served as the head basketball coach at Purdue University during the 1916–17 season and from 1918 to 1946. Lambert was also the head baseball coach at Purdue in 1917, from 1919 to 1935, and from 1945 to 1946. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.

Lambert was born in Deadwood, South Dakota. In 1890, Lambert and his family moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana. He played basketball and baseball at Crawfordsville High School and Wabash College, both under coach Ralph Jones, who himself went on to coach Purdue. Despite his height (5'6"), Lambert led Wabash in scoring his sophomore year—leading to his nickname "Piggy" for hogging the ball. Another telling states that, while playing baseball at Wabash, Lambert used his position as shortstop to hog the ball. He graduated from Wabash College in 1911.

Lambert began his coaching career at Lebanon High School from 1912 to 1916, amassing a record of 69-18 (.793) a Sectional titles and 3 other post-season appearances. Lambert coached Purdue University (1916–17, 1918–1946) to a 371–152 record in 29 seasons, including 11 Big Ten Conference titles. His teams were noted for their speed and effective use of fast breaks, which he developed. Among his players were Stretch Murphy and John Wooden. Lambert missed the 1917–18 season to serve in the United States Army during World War I. Meanwhile J. J. Maloney, an attorney from Crawfordsville, Indiana, filled in and guided the Boilermakers to an 11–5 record. Lambert's 1931–32 team finished the season with a 17–1 record and was retroactively named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. He coached 16 All-Americans and 31 first team All-Big Ten selections. Lambert Fieldhouse (originally known as Purdue Fieldhouse), the facility used for home basketball games prior to the construction of Mackey Arena, was renamed in his honor.


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Wikipedia

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