Crystal Lake Central's Blundy passes away

To many, both athletes and colleagues, Doug Blundy was a mentor, a man who never refused to offer his guidance or assistance.

Blundy, a longtime coach and athletic director at Crystal Lake Central High School, passed away Monday morning at the age of 63. For the past several years, Blundy had battled multiple myeloma, an incurable form of cancer, but had continued to work as the Tigers' AD and head girls volleyball coach.

“He became a mentor for me,” said Dundee-Crown athletic director Dick Storm. “My second year here I was secretary of the Fox Valley Conference and Doug was the president. He took me under his wing and did everything he could to help me. I'm truly affected by his passing. This is a sad day for me.”

Blundy taught math at CL Central and in addition to being the school's AD, he coached softball in two stints and girls volleyball, winning over 1,000 contests in his career. He led the softball program from 1979-97 and from 2001-06, going 354-295. His greatest coaching accomplishments came in his 27 years as the Tigers' girls volleyball coach, where he won 777 matches and lost only 187, a winning percentage of .806. His 777 wins place him No. 7 on the IHSA's all-time wins list for girls volleyball coaches.

Blundy's volleyball Tigers won 12 regional titles and made three trips downstate, winning the Class 3A championship in 2007 with a 42-0 record, and taking fourth in 2009.

“That year he won the state title I was so glad for him,” Storm said. “I'll always be indebted to him and I'll truly miss him. He was an excellent mentor for all of us.”

And an esteemed colleague to those who worked closely with him as ADs, as well as in District 155.

“Doug was as thorough and as detailed and prepared professionally as anyone could ever work with,” said retiring Cary-Grove athletic director and football coach Bruce Kay. “He always had what was in the best interests of the kids and, as an AD, the Fox Valley Conference. As an AD he set the standard.”

Blundy was diagnosed with cancer during the championship season of 2007 but he continued to teach, coach and administer at the one school he truly loved.

“He was doing exactly what he wanted to do,” said Kay. “He loved Crystal Lake Central High School and he loved those kids.”