Ben Lindsey (basketball)

For other people with the same name, see Ben Lindsey.
Coach Ben Lindsey (1972)
Sport(s) Basketball
Current position
Title Retired
Team Retired
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965–1980 Grand Canyon
1982–1983 Arizona
Head coaching record
Overall 321-161 (.666)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships

NAIA Division I - 1975, 1978

NAIA District VII - 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980

Ben Lindsey (born c. 1939) is a former collegiate basketball coach. During his 16 years as coach of Grand Canyon College he accumulated a 317–137 record and won two NAIA championships.

Playing career

High School

Lindsey attended Phoenix Union High School for two years where he was a three sport letterman (football, basketball and baseball). He transferred to Phoenix Christian High School for his final two years where he again was a three sport letterman.

College

In 1957, Lindsey began his college career at Pasadena Nazarene College (what is now known as Point Loma Nazarene University) where he played basketball and baseball and earned Freshman Athlete of the Year honors. In 1959, Lindsey transferred to Grand Canyon College (GCC) where he played three seasons of basketball and two seasons of baseball. Considered one of the top small college basketball players (Who's Who of Small College Basketball) at the time, he set five basketball scoring records, one of which remains to this day; that is, most field goals in a single game – 18.

Coaching career

College

Grand Canyon College (GCC)

Lindsey was hired by GCC Athletic Director, Dave Brazell, as the Head Basketball Coach in the Spring of 1965. At the time, GCC was a small Southern Baptist college with an enrollment of approximately 500. The basketball program's total budget at the time was $2,000 with no recruiting budget. Coach Lindsey had no assistant coach and, in addition to head coach, was the trainer, statistician, recruiter, academic advisor, hired officials, arranged score and clock keepers, swept the gym floor, and performed every other necessary role. In fact, his wife Jerri washed the team uniforms. It was not uncommon to visit the Lindsey household and see stacks of GCC basketball uniforms and warm-ups. As part of his GCC job, he had to teach 12 hours of classes (e.g., archery, golf, and kinesiology) per semester and also coached the tennis team.

Lindsey's post-season record was 30–9. He won the NAIA District VII Championship in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, and 1980. He won two NAIA National Championships in 1975 and 1978. His team also earned the 1975 tournament Sportsmanship Award...the only team to ever win the championship and sportsmanship award in the same year. GCC was the smallest college to ever win the NAIA Championship.

Lindsey was the first head basketball coach at an Arizona college or university to win a national championship. He is the only head coach in Arizona history to win two national championships. In addition, he was the youngest college/university coach to reach 300 wins, which he accomplished at age 40.

Lindsey produced five All-Americans and had three NBA draft picks.

GCC Coaching Record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
1965–1966 Grand Canyon College 11–13
1966–1967 Grand Canyon College 14–13
1967–1968 Grand Canyon College 11–13
1968-1969 Grand Canyon College 14–11
1969-1970 Grand Canyon College 21–6 NAIA District VII Playoffs
1970-1971 Grand Canyon College 10–17
1971–1972 Grand Canyon College 17–12 NAIA District VII Playoffs
1972–1973 Grand Canyon College 19-10 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA National Tournament
1973–1974 Grand Canyon College 28–2 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA National Tournament
1974–1975 Grand Canyon College 30–3 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA Champion
1975–1976 Grand Canyon College 27–3 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA National Tournament
1976–1977 Grand Canyon College 20–9 NAIA District VII Playoffs
1977–1978 Grand Canyon College 30–3 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA Champion
1978–1979 Grand Canyon College 24–4 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA National Tournament
1979–1980 Grand Canyon College 25–5 NAIA District VII Champs NAIA National Tournament
Total: 301–128

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Fort Hays State University (FHSU)

Lindsey was hired by FHSU in 1982 to a 4-year contract with the understanding that he would be released from the contract if he was offered and accepted the University of Arizona head coaching job.

University of Arizona (UA)

Lindsey was hired by the UA in April, 1982, just a few days prior to national letter of intent day. He inherited a 9–18 team from the prior season who had just lost its best player (Jeff Collins) via transfer to UNLV. Lindsey remains the only native Arizonan ever to be hired as a head coach in basketball or football at the Arizona's three State universities.

Lindsey was terminated as head coach of the University of Arizona after completing his first season with a 4–24 record.[1] Following his termination as head coach at Arizona, he filed a US$3 million wrongful termination suit against the school claiming that he had received a verbal contract promising a minimum of four years to improve the school's basketball program.[2] Lindsey prevailed in his legal battle and was awarded US$695,000 in damages.[3] This award was later trimmed and the former coach collected US$215,000.[4]

International experience

1975 - Assistant Coach for NAIA All Star team exhibition series with Mexican Olympic team in Mexico City.

1978 - GCC was chosen to represent the NAIA to play four exhibition games in Argentina.

1981 - Assistant coach for Philippine Olympic team.

Honors

GCU Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

References

  1. ↑ "Arizona Fires Lindsey After Just One Year On Job". Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas. March 16, 1983. p. 19.
  2. ↑ "Lindsey Testifies". Mohave Daily Miner. September 25, 1986. p. 11.
  3. ↑ "Judge Denies Bid To Trim Jury Award". Prescott Courier. December 16, 1986. pp. 8A.
  4. ↑ "Lindsey back on bench at Maryvale High School". Prescott Courier. June 15, 1989. pp. 11A.


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