Otis Is the Top Choice

Jesse Gonzales, superintendent of Compton Unified School District, confirmed Monday night that former Dominguez High boys’ basketball coach Russell Otis, replaced in a storm of controversy less than two years ago, has emerged as the leading candidate to reclaim his old position.

Gonzales, speaking after a school board meeting, said Otis, who guided the Dons to seven Southern Section championships and four state titles in 13 seasons, could be approved at the board’s next meeting, Dec. 10.

Dominguez finished the 1999-2000 season ranked No. 1 in the nation, but in November 2000 Otis was arrested for allegedly sexually molesting a former player.

Otis vigorously denied the charges and a jury acquitted him. But the school district fired him in February 2001, citing his failure to obtain a permanent teaching credential.

Dominguez would be hiring him as a walk-on coach without teaching responsibilities.

The player who criminally accused Otis has leveled similar civil charges in Compton Superior Court, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. The Compton district has also been named as a defendant in the case, accused of negligence. A jury trial is scheduled to begin in early February.

Conrad Kohrs, the attorney defending Otis in the civil litigation, said he has brought a cross-complaint against the plaintiff and his family members for “deliberately, intentionally and maliciously lying not only during the investigation but under oath during the criminal trial.”

Dominguez will open its season Monday without a permanent coach. Former Don player Joey Aubrey and his father, Horace, have served as interim coaches since practice started this week.

“I told [Dominguez Principal Kelcey] Richardson that he needed to start thinking in terms of what he is going to do, that he needed to make some arrangements to have somebody in place,” Gonzales said.

Joey Aubrey has said he supports Otis’ return as coach.

-- Ben Bolch

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At least 14 schools that competed in the Southern Section football playoffs last weekend violated an edict requiring them to use Spalding footballs and face sanctions, according to section spokesman Thom Simmons.

Game officials were asked to file incident reports on those schools that did not use Spalding footballs. The section had received 14 reports as of Monday afternoon. Spalding is paying the Southern Section $75,000 a year in sponsorship money for five years.

Officials were told to inform coaches before each playoff game of the ball requirement.

Simmons said Commissioner Jim Staunton has not decided on the punishment for schools ignoring the rule or when the punishment would be enforced. The section warned this month that those schools could face a financial penalty or loss of future playoff home dates.

Eric Sondheimer