Compton Dominguez basketball coach placed on leave
Russell Otis has directed the school to 10 Southern Section championships and six state titles since 1988. The school district gives no reason for his leave.
Russell Otis, the longtime Compton Dominguez High boys basketball coach who built one of the state's most dominant programs, has been placed on administrative leave for undisclosed reasons, the Compton Unified School District announced today.
"Coach Otis has been placed on a paid administrative leave," Byron Isaac, the district's associate superintendent for human resources, said in a statement. "The district took action this week as part of a personnel related matter and due to district personnel procedures regarding confidentiality cannot comment further at this time."
Otis, 46, has directed Dominguez to 10 Southern Section championships and six state titles since 1988, doing so with stars including current NBA players Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets) and Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons).
Rival coaches have long complained about Otis' continual use of players who transfer from other schools to play for his Nike-sponsored program, including 2007-08 Southern Section champions Jordan Hamilton and Dominick LaCoste.
Otis has said his program's success draws talented athletes, and that he obeys Southern Section rules.
His leave of absence comes eight years after he was removed from coaching the Dons while facing criminal charges that he molested a former boys player. He was acquitted by a Los Angeles County jury and returned to the Dons' bench in 2002.
Assistant coach Andre Flowers will take over as interim head coach while Otis is on leave. Flowers was prepared to lead his players through a "pickup practice" when Principal Joy Bramlette entered the gymnasium this afternoon to address the team.
Opposing Compton basketball coaches were surprised by today's news.
"I'm in shock," Compton Centennial High Coach Vadim Malikin said.
"I hope everything works out for him," Compton High Coach Tony Thomas said. "I like the competition between our programs."
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
