Nick Rolovich, the head coach of Washington State University’s football team, was fired on Monday for his refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The decision came after the state governor, Jay Inslee, set the deadline for all state employees to get vaccinated against the virus. Rolovich, who was the highest-paid employee at Washington State with an annual salary of $3 million, saw his contract cut short. Despite his contract running until 2025, his request for a religious exemption from the vaccine mandate was denied.
Among the coaches in the Pac-12 conference, Rolovich was the lone head coach who had not received the vaccine. Throughout games, he would wear a mask. Additionally, four assistant coaches – Craig Stutzmann, John Richardson, Mark Weber, and Ricky Logo – were also let go for refusing vaccination.
Washington State’s athletic director, Pat Chun, expressed the difficulty of the situation, stating, “This is a tough day for Washington State football. Nobody wants to be here.” While the university is not obligated to honor Rolovich’s remaining contract, a potential legal battle over his termination is likely. Despite several discussions with Rolovich over several months, he did not change his stance, and he has not publicly disclosed his reasons for not getting vaccinated.
In contrast to the previous season, where COVID-19 cases led to game cancellations and rescheduling, this season has not seen any disruptions due to the virus.
