Ward L. Lambert

Enshrined 1960
Born: May 28, 1888
Deadwood, SD
Died: January 20, 1958

Nervously pacing the sidelines, Ward "Piggy" Lambert's animated style of prodding demanded precision and execution from his teams. Diminutive in stature, Lambert was an innovative strategist and, during his 29 seasons, recruited players who fit into his coaching style: big players who could handle the ball and aggressive, ball-hawking perimeter players. At Purdue University, Lambert's All-America lineup included Hall of Famers Charles "Stretch" Murphy and John Wooden. In fact, Lambert's coaching methods greatly influenced Wooden and his Pyramid of Success. Lambert pioneered the fast-breaking style of hardwood play and his teams were always noted for their great speed. An energetic and prosperous coach, Lambert also authored the popular textbook, Practical Basketball, one of the early bibles of the game.