Coaches at public school in Michigan will no longer lead prayer (July 22, 2020)

Coaches in Muskegon Public Schools will no longer be leading their athletic teams in prayer.

A district community member reported that the Muskegon High School’s head football coach was leading the team in prayer after games and practices.

FFRF Legal Fellow Dante Harootunian wrote to Superintendent Matthew Cortez reminding the district that it is illegal for public school coaches to lead their players in prayer and that this practice must cease.

The district’s attorney informed FFRF that Cortez will be directing all coaches to cease prayers with team members. “All coaches will be educated on the constitutional limitations of prayer in public schools,” the attorney noted.

Freedom From Religion Foundation