Joseph Kennedy, a former high school football coach who was fired for conducting prayers with his players, has been awarded a $1.7 million compensation by the Bremerton School District in Washington state.
The district agreed to pay Kennedy $1,775,000 in salary, plus a $5,304 stipend for his role as an assistant coach during the 2023 football season. In addition, the school has offered Kennedy permission to return to Bremerton High School as an assistant coach.
The district’s statement underlined that the school community is eager to move on and focus on providing the finest education possible to its pupils. After nearly eight years of court battles, the settlement finally puts the problem behind both parties.
This settlement follows the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision, which ruled in Kennedy’s favor 6-3.
The court recognized Kennedy’s constitutional right to kneel close to student-athletes and pray on the field after games.
Kennedy expressed relief and thankfulness for the decision, saying he felt vindicated and that all he done was satisfactory. Kennedy began praying alone on the 50-yard line after games in 2008, and his players eventually began to join him. He also gave short inspiring remarks with spiritual connotations and led the squad in prayer in the locker room.
Nonetheless, in 2015, a few athletes complained to the school board that they were being forced to participate in Joseph Kennedy’s prayers.
Kennedy ceased leading prayers in the locker room, but he continued to pray on the field after games. As a result, he was placed on paid leave and not rehired for the next season because he had broken district standards.
Despite the setback, Kennedy fought for his right to pray with his players, which eventually led to a Supreme Court decision in his favor and a settlement with the Bremerton School District.
