Former basketballcoach denies charges of rape

BOZEMAN — The former girls’ basketball coach at Lone Peak High School in Big Sky has denied raping two of his players.

Cyle Keith Kokot appeared before District Judge John Brown on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of sexual intercourse without consent. He has been released from jail on bond and is wearing a GPS monitoring device.

Kokot was arrested on Aug. 29 after the parents of one of the girls went to the school superintendent. Charging documents say Kokot has acknowledged having sex with the two girls and knowing they were 14 and 16 at the time.

He says he made the mistake of getting too close to several of the girls.

Prosecutors say two other girls told investigators that Kokot kissed them.