DES MOINES (AP) - A former Iowa State University assistant basketball coach was sentenced Friday to two years in prison on federal charges he received child pornography.

Randy Brown, 46, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court and was immediately sentenced. He also was ordered to serve three years probation upon his release from prison.

The possession of child pornography charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Brown, was arrested on March 3, 2003, on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography and obstruction of justice. He resigned his job with Iowa State the same day.

He later was indicted on the child pornography charges, but the obstruction of justice charge was dropped.

Brown, an assistant basketball coach with Iowa State from 1999 to 2003, was accompanied by family, friends and supporters in the courtroom.

His lawyer, Tim McCarthy, argued that Brown suffered from depression, the loss of children due to an unusual medical condition and other psychological problems and used child pornography as an escape.

Court records show Brown has been in rehabilitation and counseling since investigators searched his home in January 2003.

Federal investigators began an investigation in 2002 after they identified Brown as participating in computer online chats with a person who was purported to be a 15-year-old girl.

Court records show Brown told investigators that he had downloaded nude photos of minor females and disseminated adult pornography to the females he believed were minors.

He also admitted saving several pictures on floppy disks in his university office and that he destroyed 30 disks when he returned to his office after investigators searched his home.

Court records said that U.S. Postal inspectors seized computers from Brown's home and office on Jan. 24. On the computers were pictures of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.