HS Football Coach Placed on Administrative Leave for Praying on the Field

— -- The Washington State high school football coach who had been warned to end his on-field, post-game prayers has been placed on paid administrative leave for continuing the practice.

Joe Kennedy, head coach of junior varsity football and assistant coach of varsity football at Bremerton High School, has openly prayed on the football field after games since 2008, but school district administrators only recently became aware of it.

Kennedy received a letter in September from Bremerton School District Superintendent Aaron Leavell demanding he keep religion off the field, but he continued to conduct the prayers, with some players joining in.

The district followed through on its threat Wednesday, saying in a news release that Kennedy has been put on paid administrative leave and will be paid throughout the remainder of his contract term, "unless his employment status is changed in the future."

“This action was necessitated by Kennedy’s refusal to comply with the District’s lawful and constitutionally required directives that he refrain from engaging in overt, public religious displays on the football field while on duty as a coach,” the news release says.

The news release cites a 2000 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a school district was violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by allowing its facilities to be used for religious expression during a football game. The Establishment Clause was created to separate church and state by preventing the federal government from declaring or supporting a religion.

The district said that although Kennedy’s contributions to the football program were appreciated, his practice “poses a genuine risk that the District will be liable for violating the federal and state constitutional rights of students or others.”

The news release also notes that Kennedy had been offered a private location to pray that didn’t interfere with the performance of his duties, but he declined the offer.

For his part, Kennedy had tried to meet with school officials but they refused, according to a statement from Deputy Chief Counsel Hiram Sasser of the Liberty Institute, a legal defense organization that represents Kennedy.

“We were only able to have a brief hour and a half call with their lawyer, and the result was a letter banning private prayer just a few hours before last Friday's game,” Sasser said. “It is unfortunate this school district is choosing litigation instead of a simple meeting."

The Liberty Institute also said Kennedy plans to take legal action against the school district’s decision.

In a post on Kennedy’s Facebook page Wednesday, he asked everyone to put everything aside and support the football team in their upcoming game.

"I am saddened that I will not be there tonight for our team, so very proud of all of them and love them," Kennedy told ABC News today. "Thank you to all of Bremerton Knight's students, parents, families and friends who have been such a blessing."