Washington State Fires Head Football Coach After Refusing Vaccine

By Kelton Brooks Published: October 19, 2021

Washington State Fires Head Football Coach After Refusing Vaccine

Washington State coach Nick Rolovich walks on the field after the team's NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. Washington State won 34-31. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

In Summary

Nick Rolovich, along with four of his assistant coaches, are no longer employed with the university after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Washington State University head football coach Nick Rolovich and four of his assistant coaches failed to comply with the state’s COVID-19 mandate, resulting in the loss of their jobs.

“Due to the requirements set forth in Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1, Nick Rolovich is no longer able to fulfill the duties as the football head coach at Washington State University,” the department said in a news release.

Rolovich was the highest-paid employee in the state, earning $3.2 million per year.

The four assistant coaches let go were Ricky Logo, John Richardson, Craig Stutzmann and Mark Weber.

“This is a disheartening day for our football program,” wrote director of athletics Pat Chun in a statement. “Our priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of the young men on our team. The leadership on our football team is filled with young men of character, selflessness and resiliency and we are confident these same attributes will help guide this program as we move forward.”

Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-05 on Feb. 29, 2020 for a State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring full vaccinations for nearly all state employees.

In July, Rolovich said in a post on Twitter that he “elected not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for reasons which will remain private.”