Pembroke Academy boys basketball coach Rich Otis resigned his position effective immediately on Wednesday evening after four and a half seasons as head coach.

 Otis compiled a 58-28 record and helped lead the team to the 2019 Division II championship and a final four appearance in 2018.

 Otis decided to step down after a more than year-long effort by a group of parents to remove him from the position, which included Otis being confronted after several games, including after a 42-40 playoff loss to Coe-Brown last season.

 The news that Otis was no longer coaching at Pembroke was met with shock & surprise from fellow coaches around the state.

 “ I was disappointed and saddened to hear that my friend Rich Otis is no longer coaching at Pembroke, “ said current Bedford head coach and former Bow head coach Frank Moreno. “I coached against him for three years while at Bow. Despite being fierce rivals, we developed a great relationship.”

“ Rich’s teams were always one of the toughest opponents in our division. Extremely well coached and gave tremendous effort on every play. His dedication to Pembroke was evident in his year-round commitment to his players, watching their AAU games in the spring, and attending summer and fall league games regularly.”

“ While I’m not aware of the circumstances, I strongly feel the program at Pembroke lost one of the best coaches in the area.”

 Lebanon head coach Kieth Matte voiced his concerns over the situation.

“ Rich led the Pembroke program out of the woods to where they are now one of the top programs in the state.  The Spartans have played hard, been well-coached, and shown great sportsmanship.  He is a hard worker and a gentleman, Pembroke just lost a great role model for their young men.”

 “ (Otis) has taken money out of his own pocket to foot the bill for summer leagues, fall leagues, sneakers, etc.  Rich has gotten a huge commitment from his players, and the results have shown.”

“ The situation is unfortunate as Administration usually acts as a firewall between coaches and parents.  Coaches decide strategy, playing time, etc.”

“ Coaches cannot start answering the parent's complaints and the athletic director and Principal are the ones who need to ensure the coaches' autonomy.  This was handled very poorly, this is a huge red flag for future coaches interested in working at Pembroke Academy.”

 Current Alvirne head coach and former Con Val head coach Leo Gershgorin went head to head with Otis in a very good semifinal at UNH in 2019 and was similarly taken off guard by the news.

 “ Our paths crossed many times during my four years in Division II, and it was always a pleasure talking family and basketball with Rich.”

 “ When our schools met in the final four at UNH, it was clear how much his boys respected him on and off the court. I am saddened to hear of what happened.”

 Former player of the year Noah Cummings was a captain on the 2019 championship team and played two seasons under Otis. “ From the second he took over our program, I knew that we shared one common goal: to win.”

“ He was hard on us, practices were heated, intensity sometimes reached the top floor, but we never lost sight of what our focus was, and I never questioned how much he cared about us,” said Cummings.

“ We won a lot of games, we shared a lot of good times, and we shared some tougher ones, and through it all, I am happy to call Coach Otis a friend for life. He is a championship level coach, and whatever program he is a part of next will be extremely fortunate.”

  Former Oyster River and current Spaulding head coach Lorne Lucas went head to head with Otis in a 2018 semifinal game featured on our 'Greatest Games' special. " When coaching against Pembroke, you always knew that (Otis's) teams were always going to play hard and be very disciplined," said Lucas.

 " His players always got better throughout the year. Whenever we played against each other, the score was always close and intense. I was always very impressed that, win or lose, Rich was always the same, a true gentleman."

 " This is truly a case of a huge loss for Pembroke and a huge gain for whichever school is smart enough to hire Rich this spring."

 Bishop Brady head coach Gary Lavoie, who has known Otis since he was a high school student, coached against Otis in his last game at Pembroke.

 “ It has been a pleasure to see the discipline and work ethic shine through the teams that he has coached. We just experienced it a week ago. Both the JV and Varsity players for Pembroke are exceptionally disciplined and force opponents to work hard for an entire game.”

 Longtime Kearsarge head coach Nate Camp has faced Rich Otis for most of his coaching career, including a match-up in the 2019 Division II championship game.

 "I go way back with Coach Otis, as we had many great games against each other while he was at Merrimack Valley, Franklin, and Pembroke.”

“ He's a proven leader, a veteran coach, and his players know the importance of playing as a team, especially at the defensive end of the court. He helped build competitive programs, most of all doing so with integrity and respect."

" I look forward to seeing where he coaches next, as that team will benefit like the previous ones have."

 Hollis-Brookline head coach Marty Edwards was also effusive in praising Coach Otis as a person and a coach.

 “Rich is perhaps the kindest and most genuine person I have met in all my years of coaching. Two weeks ago, we sat and talked about the season before our game, and he was supportive and encouraging. He offered any tapes or guidance I would need for upcoming games.” 

 “ He coached a good game against us and in victory was kind and magnanimous. For all his coaching days, and especially the year he led Pembroke to a state championship, he has been a gentleman, a fine motivator, and a skilled coach and tactician in every aspect of the game."

" Rich Otis is a good man.”