The former Bainbridge High School coach accused of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor after she allegedly had a romantic relationship with a student athlete entered a plea of “not guilty” during a court appearance Thursday.

Nicole Elizabeth Hebner was charged with felony first-degree sexual misconduct earlier this month in Kitsap County Superior Court.

Hebner, who was a coach for two girls teams at BHS, stood in a sparsely filled courtroom accompanied by her attorney, Karen Unger, on Aug. 31.

Hebner was released on her own recognizance following the brief appearance before Superior Court Judge Sally F. Olsen.

Hebner is expected to return to court for her next hearing in late October.

According to court documents, Hebner, 35, had sex with one of her players, who was 18 at the time, while Hebner was a coach and teacher with the Bainbridge Island School District.

The alleged misconduct occurred between June 2015 and June 2016, and the teen had been on two teams that Hebner coached.

Hebner’s contact with the student has been under investigation since last summer.

The apparent relationship came to light in July 2016, when Hebner allegedly told friends that she had an “inappropriate relationship” with a student.

Bainbridge school district officials announced last August that a teacher had been accused of inappropriate contact. While they did not identify the teacher, officials said then that “there was sufficient concern that the teacher violated the district policy regarding staff/student boundaries and the policy prohibiting sexual harassment” and the teacher was immediately placed on leave.

Investigators searched the victim’s phone and found numerous messages between the student and Hebner, according to court documents.

The messages indicated the pair had been meeting in different places, that the student had been to Hebner’s home, and that Hebner had been giving the student rides. Documents indicate police also discovered photos of the two together that appeared to be taken at Hebner’s home.