Otis Asks District to Reinstate Him

Russell Otis, the nationally recognized high school boys’ basketball coach who in April was acquitted of charges that he sexually molested one of his players, has requested to be rehired, according to a document obtained by The Times.

Otis at first denied that he sought to reacquire his position as coach and physical education instructor at Compton Dominguez High but then referred all calls to his attorney after being read the document submitted to the Compton Unified School District.

“If you have any questions, you can call my lawyer,” Otis said. “I’m not talking about that at this point.”

Otis’ lawyer, Leonard B. Levine, also declined to comment, saying that his client’s career path is not a legal issue. “That’s between him and the school district,” Levine said.

Randolph Ward, state administrator for the CUSD, said his office could not comment on personnel matters.

Saul Lankster II, a member of the CUSD board of trustees, said he and other school board members have received copies of Otis’ request to be reinstated.

“He was brought up on charges and vindicated by the courts,” Lankster said. “There’s no reason he shouldn’t get his position back. I, for one, want him to stay in our own community.”

The document, dated July 10 and directed to R. Keith Beeman, associate superintendent for human resources with CUSD, indicated that Otis had included with his request a copy of his credential information and court documents that showed he was cleared of all charges in the molestation case.

Otis was fired in February, three months after being charged. School district authorities said at the time that Otis had failed to obtain permanent credentials over 14 years of teaching.

Levine said the coach has since completed a college course that satisfied his credential requirement.

The 17-year-old boy who accused Otis of molesting him had testified that the coach last fall groped him, performed oral sex on him and sodomized him.

Otis faced more than nine years in prison if convicted. After his acquittal, he indicated he would consider returning to his post.

Lankster said he would like to see that happen, in part because his son, Saul Lankster III, a guard on Dominguez’s state championship team last season, is eager to play for Otis.

“I’m hopeful he can live out his dream of playing for Russell Otis,” the elder Lankster said.

Otis began coaching at Dominguez in 1987 and built the Dons into a national power. He led Dominguez to four state titles and a mythical national championship while developing standouts such as Tyson Chandler, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft.