COACH JOE KENNEDY was head coach for the Bremerton High School junior varsity football team and an assistant coach for the varsity team who was fired for privately taking a knee in 15-second silent prayer after high school football games.
EPC TOPIC: Standing for Christ in Public Schools
Before he even coached his first game, this Marine Corps veteran turned football coach made a commitment to God that he would give thanks after every game—win or lose—for the opportunity to be a football coach and for his players. After his very first football game in 2008, Kennedy waited until the players cleared the field, then took a knee and silently thanked God for his players. He continued doing this after every game for seven years. Currently, a petition for write of certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States has been filed on his behalf asking the nine Justices to reverse a lower court decision that allowed a school district to fire him because fans and students could see him take a knee in silent prayer after football games.