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Concerned parents are attempting to expose Westlake football for illegal recruiting.
Parents of Westlake High School football players have seemingly turned on the coaching staff. They’ve brought concerns of potential wrongdoing to the attention of rivals.
Letters have been written to nearby schools suggesting the program is illegally recruiting players to Westlake. Their motivations remain a bit unclear.
The accusations have created controversy surrounding the Warriors. Has a high school football recruiting scandal been exposed?
Westlake is gearing up for a playoff game.
The Warriors are set to face Dana Hills in the opening round after going 7-3 in the regular season. They finished third in the Channel League with a 3-2 district mark.
The school competes in the CIF Southern Section at the Division 4 level. The Warriors are located in Westlake Village, about 25 minutes outside of Malibu.
Google Maps
A map showing the location of Westlake High School in California.
The program has experienced a major uptick in success following the hiring of head coach Rick Clausen in December of 2024. Westlake went 10-1 last season after an 0-10 campaign the year prior.
Recruiting played a pertinent role.
Don’t be surprised if the tide of high school football talent in the Westlake/Westlake Village area shifts now that Rick and Casey Clausen are at Westlake High.
Oaks Christian has already been losing talent to Simi Valley and Newbury Park.
Let the theater begin.
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) December 18, 2024
The current roster is headlined by a trio of four-star players, including a pair of Cal wide receiver commits. Quarterback Ford Green is also a hot commodity on the recruiting trail, scooping up offers from the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Florida State.
Westlake started the year 7-1 before dropping a pair of heartbreakers to Santa Barbara and Moorpark. Those games were decided by a combined five points with one going to overtime.
Still, the Warriors did enough to make the California high school football playoffs. Now, a distraction has taken attention away from the goal of a state title.
“Concerned” parents attempt to expose illegal recruiting.
The hits just keep on coming at Westlake. I can only assume the “recruits” are taking playing time away from little Tommy and Timmy. @Tarek_Fattal @ChemicalAT https://t.co/1qWhXEmf4L
— Chris Fore (@chriscfore) November 5, 2026
High school sports reporter Chris Fore posted a letter that’s supposedly been floating around California to programs near Westlake. It is titled, “Concerned Westlake High School Parents.”
The note alleges that coaches are contacting players on rival rosters illegally to lure them to Westlake. Parents claim to have gotten word of shady activity and are warning schools in the area.
“We are investigating information received concerning player recruitment and undue influence involving student-athletes enrolled at neighboring high schools…
“Specifically, we have received information raising concerns that certain student-athletes from your school may have been approached or encouraged to transfer to Westlake for football-related reasons, and that, in certain instances, financial or other material inducements may have been offered or discussed.”
The letter emphasizes that these matters are “under investigation.” It is not an accusation of wrongdoing pertaining to student-athletes, particularly those looking to transfer for “legitimate” purposes.
Apparently, the parents are under the direction of legal counsel. An investigation team has been hired through November of 2029.
Illegal recruiting has been an issue in California, specifically in the Southern Section. Bylaw 510 was referenced in the letter, which relates to “undue influence, pre-enrollment contact, disclosing pre-enrollment contact and athletically motivated transfers.”
Division 2 Yorba Linda forfeited games in October following an investigation into similar rule breaking. Inglewood competed with ineligible players in September.
Last year, Bishop Montgomery fired its coach amid claims that a rogue booster paid for the illegal transfers of players who were then made eligible with falsified paperwork.
The motivation behind the concerned parents’ allegations is not known. Are they upset with transfers taking their kids’ playing time? Are they hoping to get the head coach fired? Or, are re they truly looking out for the program to prevent potential forfeitures or playoff bans?
I do not know that answer. Whatever the case, a dark cloud has been cast over Westlake High School’s football program.
Head coach Rick Clausen has responded to the claims, but the focus for now is set on the upcoming playoff game against Dana Hills.