Central Christian names Otto head coach of boys varsity tennis

Central Christian School named Lisa Otto the new head coach of the boys varsity tennis program. A long-standing member of the CCS family, Otto has taught high school mathematics at CCS since 2007 and brings more than 10 years of coaching experience to the school’s Athletics with Purpose mission.

Otto, a 1986 CCS alumna, is no stranger to the competitive spirit of CCS. A standout student-athlete herself, she was a four-sport athlete in high school, participating in volleyball, basketball, track and softball. She also was the 1986 recipient of the Roman Gingerich Award, the highest athletic honor at CCS, recognizing excellence in leadership, sportsmanship and Christian character.

Otto’s coaching journey at Central began in 2012 with middle school girls basketball. She later transitioned to the varsity level, leading the girls basketball team to an MBC championship in 2017, where she was honored as MBC Coach of the Year.

Since 2020 Otto has been an integral part of the tennis program, serving as an assistant for both the boys and girls teams under Gene Lehman. Most recently, as the head girls tennis coach (2024 to present), she led the team to the two winningest records in recent program history.

For Otto, success is measured by more than the scoreboard. Her coaching philosophy is deeply integrated with her Christian faith, guided by her favorite scripture, Psalm 119:11: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

"Winning isn’t always the end goal," Otto said. "Building character and discipline is the goal, and hopefully, winning is an added bonus when done well. I pray daily that God grants me the insight to see the potential in every player and that my character and example draw players closer to God."

The Otto family legacy at CCS remains a point of pride. Lisa and her husband Joel Otto (Class of ’86) are the parents of four CCS alumni: Nathan, Jonah, Leah and Samuel. From 2005-18 Lisa served as a coach, mom and fan to her children, a role that deepened her appreciation for the impact of high school athletics.