Ward Lambert

Ward "Piggy" Lambert
Sport(s)	Basketball
Biographical details
Born	May 28, 1888(1888-05-28) Deadwood, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	January 20, 1958(1958-01-20) (aged 69)
Playing career
1909–1911	Wabash College
Position(s)	Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1916–1917 1918–1946	Purdue Purdue
Head coaching record
Overall	371–152
Accomplishments and honors
Championships 1932 National Championship 11 Big Ten Championships
Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 1960

Ward Louis "Piggy" Lambert (May 28, 1888 – January 20, 1958) was an American college men's basketball coach. He was born in Deadwood, South Dakota. In 1890, Lambert and his family moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana. He played basketball (in addition to baseball) at Crawfordsville High School and Wabash College, both under coach Ralph Jones, who himself would go on to coach Purdue. Despite his height (5'6"), he 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 coached Purdue University (1916–17, 1918–46) to a 371–152 record in 29 seasons, including eleven Big Ten titles. His teams were noted for their speed and effective use of fast breaks, which he developed. Among his players were Charles "Stretch" Murphy and John Wooden. Lambert missed the 1917-18 season to serve in the 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 1932 team were national champions, as determined by a panel vote rather than an NCAA Tournament which began in 1939. 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 re-named in his honor. Lambert Field, the baseball venue at Purdue, is also named for Lambert.

Following his retirement from Purdue, he served as Commissioner of the National Basketball League during the final three years (1946–49) of that league's tenure and was instrumental in its merger with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association.

Lambert wrote Practical Basketball in 1932, one of the first "bibles" of the game. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.

External links

• History of Purdue Basketball