| Tom Lester | |
| Birth Date: | 23 January 1927 |
| Birth Place: | Drumright, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Overland Park, Kansas, U.S. |
| 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) |
| Championships: | Football RMAC (1970) |
| Awards: | Football All-CIC (1951) |
Thomas Arthur Lester (January 23, 1927 – September 2, 2012) was an American college football coach.[1] [2] 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,[3] [4] and compiling a record of 48–38–5.[5] Prior to becoming head coach, he served as the freshman coach six seasons.[6] [7]
Lester was the head football coach for Caldwell High School and Atchison High School and compiled a record of 51–21–3.[8] He also coached basketball for Caldwell.
Lester was an All-Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) end for Pittsburg State from 1948 to 1951.