Former Bakersfield college basketball coach heads to prison after plea deal

Kevin Mays, who briefly coached at California State University, Bakersfield, entered a no-contest plea to felony offenses tied to child pornography and a prostitution operation spanning California, Oregon and Las Vegas. The plea bargain eliminated most of the original charges, leaving him to serve a prison term for the remaining felonies. Authorities say Mays coordinated a 22-year-old prostitute’s clients, booked hotel rooms, and used his university account to secure a luxury vehicle for her.

An anonymous tip in August 2025 triggered a university investigation, which resulted in a police sting, the seizure of firearms, drugs, and roughly 600 illicit images of children as young as four. His defense attorney described Mays as remorseful and hopeful for the basketball program’s future. The case underscores serious misconduct involving a college employee and a cross-state exploitation network.