Nick Rolovich to take legal action after termination over vaccine mandate
Former Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich plans to take legal action against the university for what his lawyer is calling an “illegal termination.”
Rolovich got his walking papers on Monday after failing to meet Washington governor Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate for all state employees. Monday was the deadline to get the vaccine or approval for a health or religious exemption.
According to a release from Rolovich’s lawyer, Washington State turned down the head coach’s religious exemption claim.
His lawyer went so far as to call Wazzu athletic director Pat Chun’s move “discriminatory and vindictive,” despite the mandate coming down from the state level. Chun did not confirm that the university had denied Rolovich’s exemption on Monday.
Washington State fired Rolovich and four other assistant coaches in the midst of a 4-3 season for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine. He finished his time in Pullman with a 5-6 overall record and 4-3 in the Pac-12.
Rolovich’s lawyer also shared that the former head coach had to be escorted by campus police. He was not allowed to speak with his team or enter facilities.
DT coach Ricky Logo, assistant head coach John Richardson, co-OC Craig Stutzmann and OL coach Mark Weber were also fired.
Washington State fired Rolovich “with cause,” leaving $10 million behind on his contract. He was the state’s highest-paid employee, earning more than three times the president of the school.
The drama of when or if he would receive a vaccination started in the summer. He was the only coach not to attend Pac-12 media days this summer, instead joining on a Zoom call.
Rolovich sued by ex-Wazzu wideout
Nick Rolovich has been in legal trouble of his own after a former player filed suit against him in August.
Wide receiver Kassidy Woods alleged that his participation the Pac-12’s unity movement “#WeAreUnited,” and his decision to opt-out jeopardized his future with the football team. Rolovich told Woods on a phone call, “there’s one way we’ll handle (the opt out) if it’s COVID related, then there’s one way we’re going to handle it if it’s joining this group.”
Woods, who has the sickle cell trait, ended up transferring to Northern Colorado. He claimed the Wazzu program was hiding COVID-19 cases, thereby putting students at risk.
“His roommate felt that Woods should know about the positive cases even though Defendants strictly ordered the players to keep silent to the media and others — including players who had not yet reported back to Pullman — regarding positive COVID-19 cases that were occurring within the program,” the lawsuit said.
Woods was told to clean out his locker after opting out.