High school basketball coach engaged in sexual acts with player 100 times, cops say

A former girls’ basketball coach for a Christian high school was arrested when one of his former players came forward detailing their years-long sexual relationship, according to Ohio police and news reports.

Jason Dawson, 35, was reportedly arrested Monday, March 25, in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he now lives.

Court records show Dawson was charged with pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and two counts of sexual battery involving a minor.

He coached three seasons at Worthington High School before leaving in 2022 for a job in North Carolina, according to the school, which is about 10 miles north of Columbus.

A woman who played on Dawson’s team said she was in a “relationship” with the coach beginning in 2019, according to court documents obtained by WSYX. The relationship became sexual in 2021 when the victim was 16, the station reported.

She said they engaged in sex acts about 100 times over the next two years, WCMH and WBNS reported, citing the court documents.

Dawson is also accused of recording the sex acts, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The victim showed officers text messages and video evidence of their encounters.

Police said a second victim also came forward, alleging she and the coach engaged in “sexual conduct” at the school in November 2020, WCMH reported.

McClatchy News has reached out to the school and is awaiting a response.

Dawson is being held in the Mecklenburg County Jail in North Carolina as of March 27, awaiting extradition.

This story was originally published March 27, 2024 at 12:30 PM with the headline "High school basketball coach engaged in sexual acts with player 100 times, cops say."