A native of New York City, Ballin attended the Lawrenceville School before enrolling at Princeton University.

He was selected as a first-team All-American by, among others, Walter Camp in Collier's Weekly,[3] University of Michigan Coach Fielding H. Yost,[4] football historian Parke H. Davis,[5] sports writer Tom Thorp,[6] and the Trenton Evening-Times.

The remarkable defense shown by the Tigers under the shadow of their own goal posts was due to a great extent to the almost superhuman efforts of Ballin.

[8]College Football Hall of Famer Charles Brickley later recalled that Ballin was the hardest-hitting player he ever faced.

In that game against Princeton [in 1913], which was played in a sea of mud, official statistics verified by a correct counting of my bruises show that I was knocked down seventy-eight times.

[2] In recognition of his contributions in 1914, Ballin was selected as a first-team All-American by 21 of 26 recognized selectors, including Walter Camp,[12] Vanity Fair (selected based on the votes of 175 "prominent newspapermen of the country"),[13] Walter Eckersall of the Chicago Tribune,[14] Frank G. Menke, sporting editor of the International News Service,[15] the New York Herald,[16] and James P. Sinnot of the New York Evening Mail.

[18] In the fall of 1919, after completing his military service, Ballin returned to his position as an assistant football coach at Princeton.

[23] In 1921, Ballin was hired as "director of football tactics" at Shady Side Academy and led the team to a one-loss season.

[24] Ballin continued as head coach for the Duquesne Dukes for the 1922 and 1923 college football seasons.