Always Part of the Game

Whether as a parent, coach, or official, Kendrick Evans is a familiar, supportive presence at local sporting events.

Words by Micah Harrison | Image by Al Blanton

On any given week in Jasper, Kendrick Evans might be found overseeing operations at a waterworks facility, coaching a youth basketball team, or serving alongside members of his church. For more than two decades, he has quietly remained a steady presence in the Jasper community, investing in the same place that invested in him.

“It’s funny how a lot of the guys you knew from back in the day get you involved,” Kendrick says. “They were always giving back to the community. I guess they make an impression on you, so you end up doing the same thing you saw them do.”

Today, Kendrick serves as plant supervisor at a Walker County-based plant for Birmingham Water Works, overseeing the facility’s day-to-day operations. He first joined the organization in 2003 as an operator, responsible for running motors and starting and stopping pumps during shift work. Over the next 22 years, he steadily advanced through numerous promotions, building a career with the company.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Kendrick has spent nearly two decades coaching youth basketball through Jasper Parks and Recreation, helping guide young athletes through the same system that shaped his own childhood. His involvement in coaching began in 2007, when his wife, Daphne, a sports coordinator for Jasper Parks and Recreation, needed additional help leading teams.

“I kind of liked the coaching thing, so I started helping her out as much as I could,” Kendrick says.

Kendrick most often coaches players between the ages of nine and 12, helping them develop their skills and confidence. In recent years, that experience became especially meaningful as he coached his son, Keagan, through the same program. Kendrick and Daphne also have twin daughters, Kalen and Kalea, who graduated from Walker High School and recently earned communications degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Like their brother and their father, they grew up in Jasper and participated in local youth sports, competing in volleyball and softball during middle and high school.

Kendrick’ commitment to coaching and mentorship is shaped by the path he followed growing up. Born and raised in Jasper, he began playing sports through Jasper Parks and Recreation as soon as he was old enough to register. He played every sport available and stayed active in youth leagues year-round. After aging out of park programs, he continued competing through school teams, playing basketball, football, and baseball.

While baseball came naturally to him, basketball remained his favorite, whether he was playing guard or forward. He continued as a three-sport athlete at Walker High School, graduating in 1994.

After high school, Kendrick attended Alabama A&M University, influenced in part by a cousin who had spoken highly of the experience. After several years, he returned to Jasper and began searching for work, connecting with a temp agency in Birmingham that placed him in a variety of positions. Following multiple assignments and a brief period working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), he accepted the opportunity that would become his long-term career with Birmingham Water Works.

During that same time, Kendrick also became involved in officiating, introduced to the work by acquaintances Willie Moore and Tommy Knight. He began calling basketball and baseball games, maintaining close ties with local schools and youth leagues while continuing to grow professionally.

His involvement in coaching expanded further when childhood friend Al Blanton invited him to serve as an assistant coach during Blanton’s second season leading the Bevill State Community College basketball team in 2007. Kendrick welcomed the opportunity to experience the sport from a different perspective. The experience gave him valuable insight into coaching and leadership, laying the foundation for his continued involvement with youth sports in Jasper.

That same year, Kendrick married Daphne McCain, a fellow Walker High School graduate and Jasper native. Together, they have remained deeply connected to the community they both grew up in. The family attends Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where Kendrick was first introduced to church life as a child.

Reflecting on the many roles he has held throughout the years—player, official, coach, supervisor, mentor—Kendrick recognizes the influence of those who came before him. Their example helped shape his own commitment to serving others.

Without fanfare or recognition, Kendrick Evans continues that legacy of service, whether at church, on the sidelines of a basketball court, or in his work each day. His impact is felt quietly but consistently in the community he has always called home. 78