Washington State Fires Football Coach Nick Rolovich Over Vaccine Refusal

Strategic Insights -

Former City College standout quarterback Nick Rolovich was dismissed as head coach of the Washington State football team on October 18, following his failure to comply with Governor Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Rolovich, a two-time All-American quarterback from 1998 to 1999, initially expressed willingness to take the vaccine in August but ultimately applied for a religious exemption. Despite the unclear status of his exemption, athletic director Pat Chun confirmed Rolovich's departure from the university. Rolovich's termination comes after a 5-6 record across two seasons as head coach and follows a two-year stint as the quarterbacks coach at City College from 2006 to 2007.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nick Rolovich was fired as head coach of the Washington State football team on October 18, 2021, for refusing to take the state-mandated COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Rolovich initially expressed willingness to take the vaccine in August but applied for a religious exemption instead.
  • Rolovich had served as head coach at Washington State since 2020 and finished with a 5-6 record across two seasons.
  • The noncompliance with the vaccine requirement rendered Rolovich ineligible to be employed at Washington State University, according to athletic director Pat Chun.
  • Rolovich plans to sue the university for illegal termination, according to his attorney.
  • Rolovich was a two-time All-American quarterback at City College from 1998 to 1999, leading the team to a national championship in his second year.
  • Rolovich also served as quarterbacks coach at City College from 2006 to 2007 and previously as head coach at the University of Hawaii.

Statistics:

  • Washington State's football team finished with a 5-6 record across two seasons under Rolovich's coaching.
  • Rolovich led City College to a national championship in their second year (1999).
  • Rolovich refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine, citing concerns that are not explicitly stated in the source.
  • The noncompliance with the vaccine requirement led to Rolovich's immediate termination as head coach of the Washington State football team.
  • 4 of Rolovich's assistants failed to comply with the vaccine mandate alongside their head coach.

Sources:

  • Kaiyo Funaki, "Former City College standout quarterback Nick Rolovich was fired as head coach of the Washington State football team on Oct. 18"
  • "Washington State athletic director Pat Chun stated at a press conference, 'The noncompliance with this requirement renders [Rolovich] ineligible to be employed at Washington State University'"
  • "'The noncompliance with this requirement renders [Rolovich] ineligible to be employed at Washington State University and therefore can no longer fulfill the duties as a head coach of our football program effective immediately,'"
  • An attorney representing Rolovich stated, "Rolovich plans to sue the university for illegal termination"