Background
Lambert was born in Deadwood, South Dakota.
baseball player coach Football player basketball player
Lambert was born in Deadwood, South Dakota.
He graduated from Wabash College in 1911.
He served as the head basketball coach at Purdue University during the 1916-1917 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.
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. 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 (1916-1917, 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 1917-1918 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.
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. Lambert also coached Purdue"s baseball team in 1917, from 1919 to 1935, and from 1945 to 1946.
Lambert Field, Purdue"s former baseball stadium, is also named for Lambert. He was listed as a scout for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball in 1948.
Coaching tree Lambert coached and mentored several future National Collegiate Athletic Association coaches.
The most notable include: John Wooden, Mel Taube, Blair Gullion, Emmett Lowery, Donald White, Jim Hinga and Ray Eddy.