Cal State Bakersfield’s men’s basketball team is the subject of an explosive scandal involving a former assistant coach.

Kevin Mays, a former Runners player who was named a temporary assistant on longtime head coach Rod Barnes’ staff last June, was arrested in September on 11 charges, including pimping and possession of more than 600 images of youth or child pornography. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Baker and former athletic director Kyle Conder were summarily removed from their posts shortly after Mays’ arrest. An internal investigation is underway within Cal State Bakersfield’s ranks. Mays, meanwhile, is being held without bond.

Here’s the latest on the scandal that has shook up the college basketball world.

Cal State Bakersfield basketball scandal

On Aug. 29, 2025, an anonymous tipster alleged that Kevin Mays, a former Cal State Bakersfield player who had joined head coach Rod Barnes’ ranks as a temporary assistant, was moonlighting as a pimp across four states.

The tipster emailed Barnes directly, calling it a “first warning and a final warning,” according to ESPN.

Barnes swiftly forwarded the email the university’s human resources office, who then sent the allegations to the police. Authorities carried out an investigation into the matter, leading to Mays’ arrest.

Lawsuits, internal investigations and more have followed in the months since Mays was booked. In September, the school announced that Barnes and athletic director Kyle Conder were dismissed from their roles. The school didn’t explain the reason for their dismissals at the time.

Who is Kevin Mays?

Mays is a former Runners player who played for Barnes from 2014-16. He joined his alma mater’s athletic department in 2019, rising to the title of temporary assistant coach prior to his arrest.

He is accused of working as a pimp during his time on Cal State Bakersfield’s staff. He is facing 11 charges in total, including the felony of pimping.

An anonymous email sent to Barnes alleged that Mays was “trafficking” a woman. The email listed Las Vegas, Oregon, Washington and California as his alleged operating area, according to ESPN.

Kevin Mays charges

Mays faces 11 charges in total. In addition to a felony charge of pimping, Mays is also facing charges of possession of automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines and possessions of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell. Other charges cited him for possession of more than 600 images of youth or child pornography and distribution of obscene matter involving someone under 18 years old.

Mays pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Kevin Mays arrest history

Mays passed his criminal background check upon his return to Cal State Bakersfield in 2019. He was arrested in September, succumbing to a sting operation by Sacramento police. Authorities attempted to schedule a “date” with Mays’ alleged victim at a Sacramento hotel room that Mays reportedly rented.

When interviewed by police following the operation, the woman named Mays her “boyfriend”, saying he “routinely covered the costs” for renting vehicles, hotels and flights when she traveled for sex work. Police claim that text messages between the woman and Mays showcased his “involvement and control” in the alleged victim’s sex work.

Shortly after his arrest and booking, police searched his vehicle and apartment, finding multiple firearms, including automatic rifles and copious amounts of drugs. A subsequent search of his phone yielded nearly 600 images of child pornography, including some images depicting children as young as the age of 4.

Cal State Bakersfield statement

Cal State Bakersfield senior director of strategic communications Jennifer Self called the charges against Mays “deeply concerning” in an email sent to ESPN. She indicated that the school reached out to a human trafficking expert, who helped the university set up education training on the subject on campus.

“We also viewed this moment as an opportunity to take a broader look at our athletic program,” Self said.

The university reportedly launched a commission to conduct a more comprehensive assessment of the athletic program’s actions and recommend “structural and administrative changes” to bring the program in line with the university’s “mission and values.”