College basketball coach had underage player send him sexually explicit photos, feds say

A 38-year-old college basketball coach is going to prison after being accused of convincing an underage player to send him sexually explicit photos in Oregon, federal officials said.

In November 2021, Nathan Ezell Bowie, who served as the head men’s basketball coach at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, was leading a basketball camp at a high school, according to a Sept. 4 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

During the camp, Bowie asked students to connect with him online, and one player eventually messaged him asking for basketball drills, officials said.

After continuing to talk, Bowie persuaded the player to send him sexually explicit photos, officials said.

”At one point (Bowie) planned to meet with her for the purpose of having a sexual encounter while in Douglas County representing Mt. Hood Community College,” the Douglass County Sheriff’s Office said.

In January 2022, another coach learned what happened and called the police, officials said.

Bowie was charged in March 2022, officials said.

He pleaded guilty in May 2024 to coercion and enticement of a minor, prosecutors said.

Deputies said Bowie hosted basketball camps and clinics throughout Oregon before his arrest in 2022.

Before his coaching career, he played for various professional basketball teams overseas, The Associated Press reported.

McClatchy News reached out Mt. Hood Community College and Bowie’s lawyer for a statement on Sept. 6 and was awaiting a response.

He was sentenced to 13 ½ years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release, officials said.

This story was originally published September 6, 2024 at 10:58 AM with the headline "College basketball coach had underage player send him sexually explicit photos, feds say."