Lambert's teams posted seven winning campaigns in the 1990s, including a memorable 1997 season in which his Sea Gulls finished 25-6 and advanced to the final eight of the NCAA Division III Tournament. That was Salisbury's second visit to the national quarterfinal round in five years.

Over his final 10 seasons, Lambert's teams posted 178 wins while earning four NCAA Tournament bids and claiming four conference championships. Lambert was honored as the Capital Athletic Conference's Coach-of-the-Year in 1996 as he led Salisbury State to both the regular season and postseason championship. He retired with a  433-359 overall record.

Under his tutelage, the Sea Gulls had 17 winning seasons, notched double-figures in victories in 26 of 30 seasons and earned five NCAA Tournament bids. Included in that stretch was a record-setting 1991-92 season, when Lambert guided the Sea Gulls to a a 28-2 record and second place ranking in the final Division III national poll that season. For his efforts, he was selected as the Atlantic District Coach-of-the-Year, as well as the Eastern States Athletic Conference Coach-of-the-Year.

The 1992 team set a school-record with 28 wins while also enjoying a nation's best 27-game winning streak. The Sea Gulls also produced the national player-of-the-year that season. Lambert's 1989-90 team set a new NCAA Division III scoring record of 104.5 ppg.

A 1962 graduate of the University of Virginia, Lambert was a three-year varsity player on the Cavalier basketball team. He then received his master's degree from the University of Maryland in 1965 before entering the high school coaching ranks. Lambert posted an 85-24 record in six seasons at the prep level, including five successful seasons at Stephen Decatur HS on the Eastern Shore. In all, Lambert's squads captured one state title, one state second place and four county championships before he took over the reins of the SSU program in 1970.

Lambert is a native of Wilmington, Delaware and attended Mount Pleasant High School.