Dominguez Gears Up in Absence of Coach

Compton Dominguez High basketball players are continuing preparation for the first official day of practice, despite the absence of Coach Russell Otis.

Otis, 38, was arrested last Thursday by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives and booked on suspicion of sexual battery, sodomy and oral copulation with a 17-year-old. He posted bond for $100,000 bail and was released that night.

Otis is on paid administrative leave from the Compton Unified School District. He has not been charged with a crime, but is scheduled to appear for a court hearing Nov. 28.

Saturday is the first day Southern Section schools can begin official workouts. Dominguez assistant coaches Horace Aubrey, Andre Flowers and Traveon Louis are overseeing the Dons’ nationally recognized program.

Fausto Capobianco, a school district spokesman, said Tuesday that there has been no communication between Otis and the district regarding his status as coach. Capobianco said Otis, who teaches health, will remain on paid administrative leave until formal charges, if any, are filed.

Capobianco said that if charges were filed against a school district employee, “particularly if it involves sexual aspects,” the individual would be placed on compulsory suspension, which means suspension without pay.

If players decide to transfer out of the Compton district because of the coaching situation at Dominguez, they are not guaranteed eligibility at another school, said Thom Simmons, spokesman for the Southern Section.

“This situation does not give them a free pass,” Simmons said.

Simmons said players could apply to Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton for hardship status, execute a bona fide change of address or take advantage of another district’s open-enrollment policy if space permitted.

Simmons said hardship transfers are usually granted or denied in seven to 10 days.