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A former college basketball coach from California has been implicated in a shocking case involving multiple states. Authorities suspect Kevin Mays, once a player and temporary assistant coach at California State University, Bakersfield, of leading a double life as a pimp. His arrest also uncovered disturbing images of children, some as young as four years old.
Kevin Mays was part of the California State University, Bakersfield basketball team before transitioning into a coaching role. The university confirmed that Mays had left his position by September 2025, though details surrounding his departure were not immediately clear.
The troubling revelations came to light a month prior when former men’s basketball coach Rod Barnes received a distressing email with the subject line ‘IMPORTANT MESSAGE 911 911.’ This email, which ESPN reported on, contained explosive allegations against Mays, accusing him of trafficking a woman over several months.
The email explicitly stated, ‘HE IS TRAFFICKING A GIRL BY THE NAME OF [redacted],’ alleging that this trafficking had been ongoing since May. Mays was said to be operating across multiple states, including Las Vegas, Oregon, Washington, and California.
The email concluded with a stark warning, ‘FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL,’ prompting immediate attention from the authorities. Police launched an investigation, leading to Mays facing a slew of charges—11 criminal and misdemeanor counts in total.
They include a felony charge of pimping, possession of automatic firearms, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell.Â
Police believe Kevin Mays, a former college basketball coach, has been moonlighting as a pimp
Mays played for California State University, Bakersfield before joining the coaching staff
He is also accused of possessing more than 600 images of youth or child pornography, as well as the distribution of obscene matter involving someone under 18.Â
When searching Mays’ car and apartment, ESPN report, police found ‘automatic rifles’ and ‘a large quantity of drugs’, while a search of his phone ‘revealed close to 600 images of child pornography, including some depicting children as young as four.’Â
Mays, who is being held without bail, denies the allegations but ESPN reports that police are continuing their investigations to see if more charges could follow. A school spokesperson called the accusations ‘deeply concerning.’
The 6ft 4ins New York native played as a forward for CSU Bakersfield between 2014 and 2016, having begun his college basketball career at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.Â
As reported by ESPN, he joined the athletic department as a player-development coordinator before taking a job as a temporary assistant coach on the Roadrunners staff.Â
The whistleblower claimed they knew Mays through sex work and, in a second email cited by ESPN, the coach claimed he was a professional gambler and allegedly threatened to take away their child if they exposed him.
It has also been alleged that Mays used his school account to rent a car for a sex worker, while a police sting operation – which involved scheduling a date with the woman – took place in a hotel room that had allegedly been booked by Mays.
According to ESPN, the woman told police that Mays was her ‘boyfriend’ and that he regularly funded flights, hotels and cars for her sex work. But police reportedly found evidence – through text messages – that Mays had ‘involvement and control’ over her sex work.
An overview of the game action taken during the Division 2 Men’s Basketball Championship held at Bakersfield Centennial Garden on the campus of California State University-Bakersfield
After he was arrested, the basketball coach denied any involvement in prostitution. He remains in jail, with a preliminary hearing into his case slated for next week.
CSU Bakersfield has now released a statement detailing the steps the program made in response to a 2025 anonymous report. Â
‘When CSU Bakersfield received an anonymous report in August of 2025 that a member of our coaching staff was engaged in human trafficking, we took immediate action in notifying university police and the Bakersfield Police Department,’ the statement began. ‘Both agencies launched investigations that resulted in an arrest within days. Shortly after, the university terminated the coach.
‘Our immediate focus was on the safety of our student-athletes and ensuring the matter was handled appropriately by the proper authorities. We determined that the allegations of criminal activity did not involve a CSU Bakersfield student or any member of our campus community.
‘But the nature of the allegations devastated our campus community. We seized the opportunity to strengthen education and prevention efforts around human trafficking. To that end, we consulted with a local human trafficking expert and offered training and education focused on awareness and prevention for our campus community.
‘In addition, we have established the President’s Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which is engaged in work to strengthen how we support our student-athletes and oversee our athletics program. At the same time, we have strengthened Title IX operations by clarifying roles, expanding staffing, and implementing operational improvements to promote consistency and responsiveness moving forward.
‘The safety and well-being of our students and all CSU Bakersfield community members remain our highest priority. This work is sustained every day by the dedication of our faculty, staff and students. Their commitment to one another and to our shared values strengthens the culture of care and accountability we strive to build at CSUB.’