HIgh School Football Coach Reportedly Reprimanded For Postgame Prayer With Players

The head coach of the Cape Henlopen High School football team is now under scrutiny due to their alleged participation in postgame prayers with players. According to Delaware Online, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) submitted a letter of complaint to the Cape Henlopen School District superintendent Robert S. Fulton on Wednesday, October 8. The letter was reportedly a notice citing a “a serious constitutional violation” occurring regularly at the school.

The complaint came after pictures were published by the Cape Gazette. Several of the pictures captured head coach Bill Collick engaging in prayer with his football players during a huddle. Several people contacted the FFRF after noticing the pictures.

Elizabeth Cavell, the FFRF staff attorney who wrote the letter, recently recounted what she’d seen in the pictures and her perspective of the coach’s actions. Cavell also reiterated the importance of metaphorical concept of the separation of church and state.

“He’s got his hands on players and he’s bowing his head and he’s participating in a prayer circle with students,” said Cavell. “Our objection to that is it violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, which has been interpreted to say that public school districts and their employees cannot advance or endorse religion while acting in their official capacity.”

On October 17, Superintendent Fulton also issued a brief response to the FFRF’s letter. He assured the Madison, Wisconsin-based group that the facility and staff would be reminded of the laws of the separation of church and state.

“I can assure you that our employees, including coaches, will be reminded of laws involving the separation of church and state and will respond accordingly so that an objective/reasonable observer will not perceive their actions as endorsing religion in the future.”

Coach Collick, who was reportedly taken aback by the heightened level of controversy, has also shared his sentiments of the organizations request. Although he admits he’s prayed with his players throughout his 40-year coaching career, he will respect the law and the request of the organization.

“We will continue to move forward and be about respect and do the things we know that good citizens and good people need to do,” he said.

The organization also expressed their satisfaction with the school’s cooperation and understanding in reference to the request.

“We’re satisfied with that,” Cavell said. “We’re expecting that staff, including coaches, are not going to be participating in prayers with the students in the future. We’ve taken lawsuits in the public-school context, but I don’t think we’ve taken a lawsuit on coach-led prayer,” Cavell said. “The law is pretty well established, so it doesn’t lead to much litigation. The case law is quite clear.”

What do you think of the laws regarding the separation of church and state? Share your thoughts.

[Image via Cape Gazette]