Florida
Representatives from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) are no longer entangled in the Sarasota County Schools athletic program in Sarasota, Fla.
FFRF learned that the district allowed the FCA to provide religious “character coaches” for its football teams to preach to students, lead them in prayer and host religious team “huddles.”
“Public school football teams cannot appoint or employ a chaplain or character coach, seek out a spiritual leader for the team, agree to allow someone to act as a religious character coach, or otherwise infuse the team with religion because public schools may not promote religion,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district.
FFRF worked closely with Patrick J. Duggan, who represented the school. Duggan emailed FFRF in September, reporting that the violation was “promptly addressed” to ensure no violations of the Establishment Clause occurred. “Please note the coach allegedly involved is no longer an employee of this school district and no further other alleged incidents — regardless of whether they were violations — are known to have occurred,” he wrote.
