Prominent Football Coach Fired Over Vaccine Mandate Announces He’s Fighting Back Against ‘Unjust and Unlawful’ Removal

On Monday, Washington State College head soccer coach Nick Rolovich was fired for refusing to adjust to the state’s vaccine mandate. Two days later, his lawyer mentioned he plans to sue the college that ousted him.

Lawyer Brian Fahling introduced the lawsuit in a Wednesday assertion, KCPQ-TV reported. Fahling known as his shopper’s firing “unjust and illegal.”

Simply obtained this from an legal professional representing Nick Rolovich, who plans to sue #WashingtonState for unlawful termination. Accuses AD Pat Chun of “discriminatory and vindictive conduct.” pic.twitter.com/KTOnIchKXD

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 20, 2021

Fahling mentioned Rolovich had filed for a non secular exemption from the vaccine, which was denied by the college. He accused the college of claiming it could not make lodging for Rolovich even when the exemption was granted.

WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun mentioned on Monday that Rolovich was “not eligible to be employed at Washington State College, by means of noncompliance,” The Washington Post reported. Fahling accused Chun of harboring ailing will towards Rolovich far earlier than firing him.

“Chun’s animus towards Coach Rolovich’s sincerely held spiritual beliefs, and Chun’s dishonesty on the expense of Coach Rolovich in the course of the previous 12 months is damning and will probably be totally detailed in litigation,” he mentioned in a press release.

“Chun’s discriminatory and vindicative conduct has prompted immeasurable hurt to Coach Rolovich and his household.”

Fahling continued by saying Rolovich’s firing is a troubling signal for America as an entire.

“It’s a tragic and damning commentary on our tradition, and extra particularly, on Chun, that Coach Rolovich has been derided, demonized, and in the end fired from his job, merely for being religious in his Catholic religion,” Fahling mentioned.

In line with the Put up, Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee first introduced a mandate in August for all state workers to turn out to be vaccinated, together with workers of state faculties.

At $3.2 million per 12 months, Rolovich was the highest-earning worker to fall below the mandate. The Spokesman-Review of Spokane reported that Rolovich was certainly one of about 50 WSU workers who had been fired over refusing to get the vaccine.

4 different assistant coaches had been fired with Rolovich, the Put up reported. These had been Ricky Emblem, John Richardson, Craig Stutzmann and Mark Weber.

In the meanwhile, defensive coordinator Jake Dickert will function the staff’s head coach.

Left-leaning Twitter customers had no sympathy for Rolovich after his termination. One Pac-12 reporter argued Rolovich was personally accountable for dropping his job by making a personal medical choice, whereas one other Slate reporter known as him a “loser.”

Let’s be clear:

WSU didn’t fireplace Rolovich. Rolovich fired Rolovich. He alone is totally accountable for dropping his place as the top soccer coach at Washington State College. No person else. And who suffers? The gamers.

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) October 19, 2021

If that is Rolovich’s final recreation, bear in mind he’s a loser who’s throwing his profession for one thing he hasn’t even tried to defend in any element, as a result of he can’t. Unhealthy-faith actors are gonna be in every single place making an attempt to make him a martyr. No want for any of us to take part

— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) October 17, 2021

In line with ESPN, Washington State held a 4-3 file below Rolovich this 12 months. After a disappointing 1-3 begin to the season, WSU was coming off three straight wins over California, Oregon State and Stanford.

In its first recreation with out Rolovich, WSU will host Brigham Younger College in a nationally televised contest on Saturday.