BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Rod Barnes is set to step away from the Cal State Bakersfield Men’s Basketball program after 14 seasons with the university, according to sources.
Barnes’ departure comes as the Runners’ basketball is set to tip off its 2025-26 season on November 3 against Cal.
The news of Barnes stepping away from the program comes as CSUB and its athletics department deal with mounting controversy.
Earlier this month, CSUB Assistant Basketball coach Kevin Mays was charged with several felonies, including child pornography, and pimping and pandering, after being accused of trafficking a woman.
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Days after that news, Kyle Conder departed as the athletics director for CSUB after nearly 3 years in the position.
Barnes joined the program in March of 2011 as the eighth head coach of the men’s basketball team at CSU Bakersfield.
He’s led the Runners to the postseason four times, including three appearances over four years.
In 2016, the team participated in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), advancing as the eighth seed to the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Barnes was with the program as it transitioned from independent to the Western Athletic Conference in 2012 and then to the Big West Conference in 2020.
With a 210-231 record in 14 complete seasons at CSUB, Barnes has a 396-420 career record as of the end of the 2024-25 season.
He became the second-most winning coach in Bakersfield’s history on February 13, 2020, with a home win over Chicago State, trailing only Pat Douglass’ 257 victories.
Barnes is married and has three sons, with two of them, Brandon and Bray, who have competed for Barnes during their collegiate careers, according to CSUB’s website.
CSUB has not released an official statement on Barnes’ departure as of the time of this publication.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.