BERKELEY, Calif. — Former Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich is the newest senior offensive assistant for the University of California's football program, according to a release from Cal Athletics.
At the time, a state mandate required most state employees, healthcare workers and school employees to get vaccinated. All those working at state colleges and universities were required to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The mandate covers public, charter and private school teachers and staff.
Rolovich applied for a religious exemption, but was denied following an appeal.
The former WSU coach then sued - seeking $25 million in damages for wrongful termination. Gov. Jay Inslee and then WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun were included in the lawsuit. A judge formally dismissed Inslee and Chun in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleged Rolovich applied for religious exemption with WSU's Human Resource Services, which stated he was "entitled to a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement." The lawsuit went on to allege that Chun interrupted the process, leading to Rolovich's religious exemption being rejected.
The lawsuit is still pending in the court system.