Early Years
Ben Sirman grew up on his family's farm, in Laurel Delaware, in 1939. His family valued education, but his father's occupation as a farmer didn't allow them to finance Ben's college. Ben turned to sports for pure enjoyment as a boy. However later he used it as both a way to avoid farm work and as a means to the college degree he desperately desired. His father encouraged his athletic success by offering the ultimatum, "Be good enough to start, or work on the farm."
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Athlete
Motivated by a desire to rise above farmwork, Ben became a three sport, all-star athlete. He originally played baseball, but quickly expanded his horizons to basketball and football as well.
Education
Ben got into Swarthmore on a McCabe Scholarship, a scholarship given to athletes for Swarthmore. He was a quarterback and a defensive back in football, in basketball he was point guard, in baseball he was captain and shortstop.
Coach
Ben Sirman originally acquainted himself with his athletes and bred trust by having a backyard summer league in which all were invited to join. Ben Sirman started as an assistant coach but quickly bonded with his athletes and became head coach. He led the Mustangs to a 23 game winning streak in football, and a 26 game winning streak in basketball. He won several championships in both basketball and football.
Today
Ben Sirman is currently a member of the Delaware Afro-American Hall of Fame, Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame, and Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.