Photo - Scott Brown
Ahead of the final season of basketball for the school, the Christian County High School athletic family, and Kentucky high school athletics in general, is mourning the loss of a Hall of Fame Basketball coach. Former Colonel basketball coach Lyle Dunbar passed away Thursday morning at his home at the age of 90.
Dunbar retired from Christian County High School with over 620 coaching wins, including 386 as the Colonels’ head coach. He went into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
As Christian County High Coach from 1976-94, his teams won 386 games, 12 district championships, six region titles, and appeared in the Sweet 16 state championship game twice – in 1976 and 1979.
In 2013, Christian County High School named the gymnasium in his honor.
In 33 years as a head coach that included stops at Fordsville, West Hopkins High (where he was the school’s first head coach), Scottsville, and Maysville, Dunbar won 628 games and retired with the 10th most wins in state history.
Dunbar played collegiate basketball at Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he graduated in 1961.
No arrangements have been announced as of this time.
Tributes began to come in from across the state as the word of Dunbar’s passing spread through the day Thursday.
Below is the video of the Colonels in the 1976 state championship game against Edmonson County.
Below is video from Coach Dunbar’s Hall of Fame induction.
One Response
It was a great honor for me to coach against Lyle Dunbar. Even though we were bitter rivals on the court, we were great friends throughout life. I learned a lot about basketball from Coach Dunbar. He truly will be missed. Rest in peace Coach. Fred Harper: Retired coach from Todd Central High School.