:Tom Lester (American football)

{{Short description|American football coach (1927–2012)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Tom Lester

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|1|23}}

| birth_place = Drumright, Oklahoma, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|9|2|1927|1|23}}

| death_place = Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_sport1 = Football

| player_years2 = 1948–1951

| player_team2 = Pittsburg State

| player_positions = End

| coach_sport1 = Football

| coach_years2 = 1952–1954

| coach_team2 = Caldwell HS (KS)

| coach_years3 = 1955–1960

| coach_team3 = Atchison HS (KS)

| coach_years4 = 1961–1966

| coach_team4 = Pittsburg State (freshman)

| coach_years5 = 1967–1975

| coach_team5 = Pittsburg State

| coach_sport6 = Basketball

| coach_years7 = 1952–1954

| coach_team7 = Caldwell HS (KS)

| overall_record = 48–38–5 (college football)
51–21–3 (high school football)

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships = Football
RMAC (1970)

| awards = Football
All-CIC (1951)

| coaching_records =

}}

Thomas Arthur Lester (January 23, 1927 – September 2, 2012) was an American college football coach.{{cite web |url=http://www.morningsun.net/obituaries/x1606942108/Thomas-Arthur-Lester |title=Thomas Arthur Lester - Pittsburg, KS - Morning Sun |access-date=March 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209075831/http://www.morningsun.net/obituaries/x1606942108/Thomas-Arthur-Lester |archive-date=December 9, 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.kshb.com/dpp/sports/former-pittsburg-state-football-coach-dies |title=Former Pittsburg State football coach dies |website=www.kshb.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914021953/http://www.kshb.com/dpp/sports/former-pittsburg-state-football-coach-dies |archive-date=September 14, 2012 }} He was the eighth head football coach at Kansas State College of Pittsburg—now known as Pittsburg State University—in Pittsburg, Kansas, serving for nine seasons, from 1967 to 1975,{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1967 |title=Tom Lester Hired At Pittsburg State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-tom-lester-hired-at-pi/153593209/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=The Wichita Eagle |pages=35}}{{Cite news |date=April 22, 1976 |title=Pittsburg grid coach Lester axed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-pittsburg-g/153593352/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=Springfield Leader and Press |pages=35}} and compiling a record of 48–38–5.[http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/miaa/pittsburg_state/coaching_records.php College Football Data Warehouse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920141605/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/miaa/pittsburg_state/coaching_records.php |date=September 20, 2010 }} Pittsburg State University Gorillas all-time coaching records Prior to becoming head coach, he served as the freshman coach six seasons.{{Cite news |date=April 6, 1961 |title=Sports News Items |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-optimist-sports-news-items/153593096/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=The Optimist |pages=4}}{{Cite news |last=Boggs |first=Dean |date=August 8, 1961 |title=Out Of Bounds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atchison-daily-globe-out-of-bounds/153593150/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=The Atchison Daily Globe |pages=9}}

Lester was the head football coach for Caldwell High School and Atchison High School and compiled a record of 51–21–3.{{Cite news |date=May 6, 1952 |title=Tom Lester Named Football Coach At Kansas High School |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-drumright-derrick-tom-lester-named-f/153593056/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |work=The Drumright Derrick |pages=1}} He also coached basketball for Caldwell.

Lester was an All-Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) end for Pittsburg State from 1948 to 1951.