La Plata Resident, Army Vet Has Coached High School, Rec Teams
The College of Southern Maryland has named Douglas J. Otten as the new head coach of the women's lacrosse team. He has been coaching for more than a decade in various positions and sports at two Charles County high schools.
He was recently the La Plata High School girls varsity lacrosse assistant coach, having spent two years in that position. Prior to that, he coached the Thomas Stone High School varsity volleyball team for six seasons. He also has coached boys and girls lacrosse at various travel and recreation-league levels for the past eight years.
“We are happy Coach Otten has joined the College of Southern Maryland as our women's head lacrosse coach,” said Michelle Ruble, executive director of Student Life and Athletics at CSM. “He has been coaching for 11 years and is passionate about the sport, academic advancement of our student athletes and further developing the program at CSM.”
Otten is a 21-year retired U.S. Army veteran, originally from Iowa. He is married with six children and two grandchildren.
“I have always enjoyed working with young people,” the La Plata resident said. “I helped young soldiers when I was in the Army and began coaching young athletes when I retired. Now, I?m going to give it a try at the college level.”
He said he is looking forward to working with the CSM team and moving the program forward.
Brianne Cleary of Huntingtown and Brooke Trivett of La Plata will remain in their positions as assistant coaches. Cleary played lacrosse at Division II Pfeiffer University. She also played at Northern High School in Calvert County, where she later became the head coach for the junior varsity girls lacrosse team. Trivett brings 10 years of experience playing the sport. During her years of playing, her position was mid-attack.
Cleary and Trivett both joined the CSM women's lacrosse team in spring 2016.
CSM began offering women's lacrosse in spring 2015. The team will open the 2017 season at 3 p.m. March 8 against Anne Arundel Community College.