Sport(s) Basketball, football 1931–1932 Taylor H.S. (TX) 1929–1930 Texarkana H.S. Died October 27, 2000 | 1928–1929 Arkansas (Basketball) Role Basketball Coach 1927–1928 Arkansas (Football) Name Eugene Lambert | |
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Born October 23, 1905
Searcy, Arkansas, U.S. ( 1905-10-23 ) 1933–1934 North Texas Agricultural | ||
Alma mater University of Arkansas | ||
Eugene Wasdon Lambert, Sr. (October 23, 1905 – October 27, 2000) was a basketball and football coach as well as an athletic administrator. He served as head basketball coach at North Texas Agricultural (now the University of Texas at Arlington), Kenyon, Arkansas, Memphis State, and Alabama. He served as head tennis coach in 1957 at the University of Alabama, and head football coach at both North Texas Agricultural and Kenyon.
Coaching career
After he graduated from Arkansas, Lambert coached at both Texarkana and Taylor High Schools before taking his first collegiate coaching position at North Texas Agricultural College in 1933. At North Texas, he coached both the basketball team and the football team which he led to an overall record of eleven wins, four losses and five ties (11–4–5). From North Texas, Lambert moved to Kenyon College where he again coached both the men's basketball and football teams. During his two-year tenure with the Lords, he led the basketball team to an overall record of 15 wins and 16 losses (15–16) and the football team to an overall record of six wins, seven losses and one tie (6–7–1).
From Kenyon, Lambert returned to Arkansas as an assistant coach and became the head coach for the 1942 season. While with the Razorbacks, he led Arkansas to an overall record of 113 wins and 60 losses (113–60), two Southwest Conference championships and invitations to three and appearances in two NCAA Tournaments. After he served for one year as the athletic director at Arkansas A&M, Lambert returned to the coaching ranks as the head coach at Memphis State. While with the Tigers, he led Memphis State to an overall record of 87 wins and 45 losses (87–45) two appearances in two NCAA Tournaments. In April 1956, Lambert was hired to serve as head coach at Alabama. While with the Crimson Tide, he led Alabama to an overall record of 49 wins and 49 losses (49–49). In 1957 Lambert also served as the head tennis coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He then resigned from Alabama in April 1960 to become athletic director at Memphis State. He remained as the Tigers' athletic director through his resignation in 1966.