Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes ofwebsite accessibility

Former Bremerton football coach Joe Kennedy to be reinstated by Spring 2023


Joe Kennedy prays on the 50-yard line after a game in Bremerton. (File photo)
Joe Kennedy prays on the 50-yard line after a game in Bremerton. (File photo)
Facebook Share IconTwitter Share IconEmail Share Icon

Former Bremerton High School football coach Joe Kennedy, who won his U.S. Supreme Court case in June, must be reinstated to his previous position as assistant coach of the football team by March 15, according to court documents filed this week.

It's been months since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the school district violated his rights by firing him after he'd pray on the 50-yard line, sometimes with students joining in.

“What he sought in that complaint was to be an assistant coach with Bremerton High School again and to be able to pray at the 50-yard line without risking his job,” First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys stated.

RELATED | Will ex-Bremerton football coach get his job back after Supreme Court ruling?

Dys said Kennedy has been sharing his story at speaking engagements across the country and has not changed his mind about returning to this field.

“He was just there last week watching the game, so he’s very much invested in the community and very much invested in the team itself,” Dys added.

A new court filing this week states Kennedy seeks to get his assistant coach job back on or before mid-March. There’s a disagreement between Kennedy and the school district about some wording in the ruling, and both parties will need to work it out and file a joint submission to the court in two weeks.

“So, just hashing out a few last details, but by March 15 of 2023, Coach Kennedy is going to be back on that field,” Dys exclaimed. “The cause is getting these guys to be better men on the football field and off the football field.”

The school district declined an interview Wednesday. A spokesperson sent the following statement: “The parties met and prepared a joint filing, which went to the court yesterday. That filing identifies areas of agreement between the parties and areas where there are still questions. The parties have proposed to the court that, on November 8, they each submit their specific proposed order to the court, along with an explanation of it.”

RELATED | Bremerton coach who won U.S. Supreme Court case waiting for nod to return

RELATED | Supreme Court to hear case of praying ex-football coach from Bremerton

Loading ...