Washington State was justified in firing Nick Rolovich as head football coach because of his refusal to comply with the state's COVID-19 vaccination requirements, a federal judge has ruled. Rolovich sued the university following his dismissal midway through the 2021 season.

Washington State University had “just cause” to fire head football coach Nick Rolovich for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine, a federal judge ruled Monday. Rolovich, ( pictured) who is Catholic, sued the public institution for discrimination after being terminated in 2021 in the middle of the football season.

The decision from Judge Thomas Rice of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Washington comes three years after Rolovich was let go midway through the 2021 season. At the time, state employees were mandated to be vaccinated against coronavirus, a requirement later rescinded by the state.

A federal judge sided with WSU on Monday, throwing out former head coach Rolovich’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the university. WSU terminated Rolovich after he refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Three years after Washington State University fired its head football coach, a federal court has said the university had the right to do so.

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Washington State University (WSU) in a lawsuit brought by former head football coach Nicholas Rolovich, according to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Judge Thomas O. Rice granted WSU’s motion for summary judgment, effectively ending the case.

Former Washington State coach Nick Rolovich has lost a lawsuit against the school which he filed after he was fired in 2021 over his refusal to comply with the state's COVID-19 vaccination requirements.