SPOKANE, Wash – A former Washington State University football coach who was fired for not getting a COVID-19 vaccine is appealing a judge’s decision in his case.
WSU fired Nick Rolovich midway through the 2021 football season because he would not comply with the state’s vaccine mandate.
Rolovich said it was against his religious beliefs, but a federal judge in Spokane said WSU had just cause to fire him.
Judge Thomas Rice said there wasn’t proof of Rolovich’s religious objections. Judge Rice wrote that Rolovich “frequently expressed secular concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine to friends, family members and co-workers” but did not previously invoke a religious exemption.
Rolovich filed a notice of appeal this month in federal court.
Supporting documents for that appeal are due to the court in late April.
Rolovich now works as a senior offensive analyst at Cal.
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