A California high school football coach who turned a winless program into a playoff contender is now being investigated by some of his own players’ parents. He, however, doesn’t seem particularly concerned about it.
Football coach Rick Clausen, 44, is firing back after a group calling itself “Concerned Westlake High School Parents” hired private investigators to look into allegations of illegal recruiting.
According to the New York Post, Clausen thinks the entire situation is ridiculous.
“It’s comical, to be honest with you,” Clausen said. “But with what goes on in today’s society, nothing shocks me in any way, shape or form.”
Westlake High School’s Football Coach Says He Won’t Apologize For Winning
Rick Clausen took over Westlake’s football program after the Warriors went 0-10 in 2024.
In his first season, the team went 10-1. That turnaround earned Coach Clausen the Los Angeles Rams’ Don Shula Coach of the Year Award in 2025. This year, Westlake finished the regular season 7-3 and earned a spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Apparently, though, not everyone is thrilled with how he’s running things.
“This is kind of what we have done historically with programs,” Clausen said. “We’ve inherited programs that have been down on their luck, and we turn them around. Not going to apologize for it. But it doesn’t fit everybody.”
Rick Clausen also suggested that some parents have unrealistic expectations about their children’s playing time. Go figure.
“For some kids and families, competition is a foreign concept, and they feel they are ‘entitled’ to certain things,” he said. “That is the old Westlake, and that does not fit with the direction of this program going forward.”
Parents Hired Private Investigators Over Alleged Recruiting Violations
The controversy began when parents sent a letter dated October 28 alleging potential recruiting violations.
As BroBible previously detailed, the parents claim they have information suggesting Westlake coaches improperly contacted players at neighboring 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 group claimed.
The group says it hired a law firm and a private investigation firm and plans to ask the CIF Southern Section to investigate. However, the allegations have not been substantiated publicly, and no finding of wrongdoing against Coach Clausen has been made.
“I will not apologize for building a program built on good families, and good kids who have goals and aspirations to go to college,” he said.
Westlake is scheduled to face Dana Hills in its playoff opener on Friday.