Ward Lambert
Inducted:
1960
Stats
Born
May 28, 1888
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, U.S.
Died
January 20, 1958
Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.
Position
Coach
College
Wabash College (1909–1911)
Ward "Piggy" Lambert was one of the most influential coaches in early American basketball history and the architect of Purdue University's rise as a national powerhouse. He coached the Purdue Boilermakers for 29 seasons, pioneering the fast-break style of play and emphasizing speed, precision, and disciplined execution. Lambert won 11 Big Ten championships, guided Purdue to the 1932 Helms National Championship, and mentored future legend John Wooden. Following his coaching career, he served as commissioner of the National Basketball League (NBL) and helped shape the evolution of professional basketball before the formation of the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960.
Lambert's Awards and Honor
- Helms Athletic Foundation National Champion (1932)
- 11× Big Ten Champion
- Esquire Magazine's Most Outstanding Coach (1945)
- Author of Practical Basketball (1932)
- One of the earliest influential basketball coaching books
- Served as Commissioner of the National Basketball League (1946–1949)
- Pioneer of the fast-break style of basketball.
NBA Teams
Purdue University (1916–1917, 1918–1946)
NBA Records
Career/Tenor:
1912-1946
Seasons Coached:
29
Career won:
371
Lose:
152
Win(%):
.709
Conference Championships:
11 Big Ten Titles
National Championships:
1 (1932)