Kevin Bundy grew up in Erlanger with a passion for playing pickup basketball.
You could see him at Silverlake, Maywood or Rainbow Park. It was the norm for kids growing up then in the late 70’s, early 80’s. When that norm started to become a thing of the past, Bundy wanted to bring it back, doing so with the Blacktop League at Silverlake in the early 90’s.
“It was a passion for him,” longtime friend Tony Fields said. “When kids stopped doing that, he wanted to try and bring it back.”
The Blacktop League recently celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023, but it may be gone now that Bundy has died. He passed away on Jan. 23 at 57 years old.
“This is probably the right time as Kevin is being put to rest, to put the Blacktop League to rest as well,” Scott Eaton said, who has been helping with the Blacktop League the past several years. “This was his baby and fewer teams were getting involved.”
Hundreds, if not thousands of kids grew up playing in the Blacktop League over the last 30 years, a passion for Bundy.
“You have to think back then in the 90’s there wasn’t Griffin Elite, Town and Country, youth soccer hadn’t swept through like it has now,” Eaton said. “This gave the kids a place to play.”
Eaton will speak at Bundy’s funeral on Thursday.
Bundy was also a longtime basketball coach. Bundy started his coaching career with Fields, Mike Code and Chris Hook at Tichenor Middle School in the 90’s. His most notable tenure was with the Bishop Brossart girls program, coaching the Lady ‘Stangs from 2016-21 with a record of 95-52 and led them to a 10th Region title in 2021, their first region title since 2001. Bundy also guided Brossart to a 37th District title in 2021 and three 10th Region All “A” titles from 2019-21.
He then went on to coach the Mason County girls basketball team for one season from 2021-22, leading them to a 18-10 record and 39th District title. He also coached at Highlands, coaching middle school teams and as a varsity assistant for the boys program.
He always had his shirt and tie with khaki pants on the sidelines.
Bundy was also a journalist, writing for the Dixie News as a sports reporter and earned the nickname “Scoop Bundy”.
For visitation and funeral service information, visit here.
