Former Washington State HC Nick Rolovich Suing University For Illegal Termination
Oct 20, 2021, 11:23 AM
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: Head coach Nick Rolovich of the Washington State Cougars looks on during the second half of a game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Coliseum on December 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich is suing the university for illegal termination, according to his attorney.
Nick Rolovich and four assistant coaches were fired on Monday evening after refusing to comply with a mandate that required all state employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The mandate included athletic coaches such as Rolovich, the highest-paid employee in the state of Washington at a $3 million salary.
Former Washington State coach Nick Rolovich will be suing the university for illegal termination, his attorney said.
Rolovich and four assistant coaches were fired after refusing to comply with a mandate requiring all state employees to be vaccinated. https://t.co/YSqEtUxauF pic.twitter.com/mqtCFkU27N
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 20, 2021
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg received a letter from Rolovich’s attorney that went into further detail of the upcoming lawsuit. The attorney mentioned that Rolovich’s request for a religious exemption from the vaccine was denied by Washington State University. The letter accused that Rolovich was escorted to his car by campus police immediately after his termination, not allowing him to go to his office or speak to the team.
Just received this from an attorney representing Nick Rolovich, who plans to sue #WashingtonState for illegal termination. Accuses AD Pat Chun of “discriminatory and vindictive behavior.” pic.twitter.com/KTOnIchKXD
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 20, 2021
Washington’s Proclamation 21-14.1, prohibits, “Any State Agency from permitting any Worker to engage in work for the agency after October 18, 2021, if the Worker has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provided proof thereof to the agency.”
Any Washington State employee who didn’t comply with the vaccine mandate faced termination on the October 18 deadline. Rolovich was seeking a religious exemption, according to his mentor and former head coach at Hawaii June Jones. But that was not enough for Rolovich to keep his job.
