MARTINEZ — A math teacher and girls basketball coach at Heritage High School in Brentwood pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he solicited a female student for sex.

Darin Duane Price, 38, of Brentwood, was charged Tuesday with two felonies — contacting a minor to commit a sexual offense and arranging a meeting with a minor to commit a sexual offense — and one misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child.

“He is an exemplary teacher and coach, father and husband, and the allegations appear to be out of character,” defense attorney Elizabeth Grossman said Wednesday at Price’s arraignment.

Police arrested Price on Friday after a senior in one of his math classes reported that he solicited her for sex. He remained in custody Wednesday at County Jail in Martinez on $100,000 bail.

Prosecutor Jon Yamaguchi said the student was taking a makeup exam on Jan. 21 when Price placed a $100 bill on a desk and asked her to disrobe in exchange for the money. When she refused, he laid down a second $100 bill.

When the incident was reported to police the next day, investigators sent Price a text message from the victim’s cell phone and arranged a meeting for sex, Yamaguchi said. He said Price arrived at the meeting location in Brentwood with alcohol, condoms and two $100 bills.

On Tuesday, the Heritage High varsity girls basketball team played at Pittsburg High, its first game without Price.

“I’m impressed at how they have come together in supporting each other,” Heritage interim coach Orland Caban said about his squad before the game. “From parents on down, we realize there’s nothing we can do (about the situation).”

Caban, an off-campus coach who has been an assistant with the program for three years, said he was asked Saturday by Heritage athletic director Pat Cruickshank if he would be available to coach the team. Caban said he did not learn specifics about the situation until he saw news reports Tuesday.

“I came to get these girls on the bus (Tuesday), and not anyone talked about it “… not a word. They all talked about (Tuesday’s) game,” said Caban, whose daughter Kiana is a senior on the squad.

“The girls were spoken to by administration (Monday) and told there’s nothing we can do about it. We can only hope for the best for the coach.”

Caban led practice Monday before Tuesday’s game, which Heritage won 48-42 in overtime. After the game, he said team members had no comment on the situation. Ten players suited up for the varsity squad.

“They focused on the game, played hard and pulled out a victory,” said Heritage Assistant Principal Dan Hanel, who attended the game.

Reach Malaika Fraley at mfraley@bayareanewsgroup.com.