The Freedom From Religion Foundation has sent a letter to the president of Iowa State University to raise concerns about Steve Prohm, the university's recently hired head basketball coach, due to "numerous reports of Mr. Prohm's promotion of religion through his coaching position."
To combat Prohm's anticipated proselytizing, FFRF also sent a letter to all Iowa State basketball players informing them that they have "a right to participate in University athletics free of religious proselytizing, promotion, or bias from school employees," among other rights.
Prohm has stated that he will be praying with his players before games and practices, and will ask them if they have any prayer requests. At his previous coaching job at Murray State, Prohm also reportedly declared that "we build our program around faith in Jesus Christ—not on individuals."
"The more you get these players in front of faith, the more players . . . will have a foundation on which they can build on when they leave college," Prohm claims.
According to one player on Prohm's Murray State team, Prohm "always tries to instill in our heads to try and get a relationship with God, read the Bible sometimes."
Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott wrote Iowa State President Steven Leath on July 16. "The Supreme Court has continually struck down school-sponsored proselytizing in public schools," he said.
"Mr. Prohm's team is full of young and impressionable student athletes who would not risk giving up their scholarship, giving up playing time, or losing a good recommendation from the coach by voluntarily opting out of his unconstitutional religious activities—even if they strongly disagreed with his beliefs," Elliott said. "Using a coaching position to promote Christianity amounts to religious coercion."
Iowa State should not "lend its power and prestige to religion," FFRF contends, because it excludes the 35% of students who are not religious.
FFRF asks Iowa State to "ensure that Mr. Prohm understands that he has been hired as a basketball coach and not a pastor."
FFRF is a national state/church watchdog with more than 22,500 members, including nearly 200 in Iowa.