Nick Rolovich, a devout Catholic and the former head football coach of the Washington State University Cougars, recently announced that he would file a lawsuit against the academic institution for denying him religious exemption from being administered with the COVID-19 vaccine. The sacking of Rolovich stemmed from a vaccine mandate ordered by Democrat Governor Jay Inslee earlier this year, which required all state employees to receive the jabs by October 18.
While the former head coach of the WSU Cougars withheld why he opted not to get the COVID-19 shots, his lawyer, Brian Fahling, disclosed that Rolovich’s Catholic faith made him decide not to receive the vaccine. However, Rolovich also emphasized that he respects every individual’s right to “make his or her own decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Apart from Rolovich, offensive line coach Mark Weber, cornerbacks coach John Richardson, defensive tackles coach Ricky Logo, and co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann were also booted due to the same vaccine mandate.
The athletic director of the Washington State Cougars, Pat Chun, related in a previous interview that he had been trying to convince Rolovich to change his mind about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the WSU athletic director shared that “he was resolute in his stance.” Rolovich’s attorney assailed this.
“Chun’s discriminatory and vindictive behavior has caused immeasurable harm to Coach Rolovich and his family,” Fahling stressed. He also emphasized that the athletic director’s animosity towards his client’s sincerely held religious beliefs and his dishonesty during the past year is “damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation.”
Moreover, the lawyer emphasized that it is “a tragic and damning commentary on our culture, and more specifically, on Chun, that Coach Rolovich has been derided, demonized and ultimately fired from his job, merely for being devout in his Catholic faith.”
While neither Fahling nor Rolovich gave a specific timeline regarding filing the lawsuit, the former pointed out that it will be “very soon.”
