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Report: Washington State Football Coach Out After Refusing COVID Vaccine

   DailyWire.com
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - SEPTEMBER 25 : Nick Rolovich head coach of the Washington State Cougars talks with officials during their game against the Utah Utes September 25, 2021 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
Chris Gardner/Getty Images

Time is up for Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich. 

Over the past several months, the Cougars head coach has been the subject of speculation that he will not be allowed to coach past Monday’s deadline that requires state employees to either be vaccinated against COVID or have an approved exemption. 

As first reported by The Oregonian Monday evening, Rolovich and his unvaccinated assistants have been terminated by the university with cause.

In August, a Washington state mandate was announced requiring employees working in K-12 up to higher education to be vaccinated. All employees working in school facilities had until October 18 to be fully vaccinated or risk losing their jobs. 

According to Chris Grygiel of The Associated Press, Washington Democratic Governor Jay Inslee’s office specifically mentioned Rolovich in their announcement, saying the rules apply to the Washington State head coach as well. 

Rolovich had applied for a religious exemption from the vaccine.

“I’m gonna come to work tomorrow. … I don’t think this is in my hands,” Rolovich said on Saturday. “So I’ve been settled for a long time on it, and I just believe it’s going to work out the right way.”

Rolivich said in August that he would comply with the state’s mandate when it was announced, but remained unwilling to say if he would take the COVID vaccine or apply for an exemption until recently. 

“[It’s been] about three months, four months,” Rolovich said. “So I’ve gotten used to it. These kids are incredible. Love being around them. They’re playing their hearts out for this university. I think they’ve got a real good bond that they’ll remember for the rest of their life. And it’s just pretty special.”

The process for evaluating applications for a religious exemption is a “blind” process, in order to treat each application equally. 

As reported by The Daily Wire, a video of a Washington State trooper submitting his resignation after refusing the COVID vaccine went viral Saturday night. 

 “This is my final sign-off. After 22 years of serving the citizens of the state of Washington, I am being asked to leave because I am dirty,” the trooper stated. “Numerous fatalities, injuries. I’ve worked sick; I’ve played sick; buried lots of friends over these years. (I’d) like to thank you guys; I’d like to thank the citizens of Yakima County as well as my fellow officers within the valley. Without you guys I wouldn’t have been very successful; you kept me safe and got me home to my family every night. Thank you for that.”

“Wish I could say more but this is it, so, state 1034, this is the last time you’ll hear me in a state patrol car,” he concluded. “And Jay Inslee can kiss my a**.”

Washington State has won three in a row since a 1-3 start to the season.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

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