Boys’ basketball: Rob Bloom is dismissed as head coach at Westlake

Rob Bloom, the basketball coach at Westlake for five years, “will not be brought back,” Athletic Director Tony Henney announced on Monday.

He’s the second head coach dismissed at the school this month. Baseball Coach Rocco Cascione was fired last week before he even had a chance to coach in his first game.

Bloom guided Westlake to the 2013 Division 2A championshp game and the 2014 2AA championship game.

In a text message, Henney said, “Westlake High School would like to thank him for his time and energy for his years of service to our school and community. We will begin conducting a search for our new head basketball coach immediately.”

Bloom, a former head coach at North Hollywood, received national attention in 2014 when he filed a $1 million libel suit against a former basketball parent who had criticized him in emails. The suit was dismissed by a judge last year, ruling the criticisim was protected free speech.

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