Nick Rolovich is suing WSU for wrongful termination after he was fired from his position as head football coach Monday for not complying with Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state employees.

Rolovich filed for a religious exemption from the vaccine, which WSU denied, according to a press release from Rolovich’s legal team. The release alleges WSU would not make accommodations for Rolovich even if his request had been granted.

A panel of WSU faculty with backgrounds in religion, legal accommodations and diversity review all religious exemption requests, according to the Cougar Health Services website. All personal information that could identify an applicant is removed.

WSU police escorted Rolovich to his car after he was terminated. He was not allowed to go to his office or speak to the football players, according to the release. 

Athletic Director Pat Chun was determined to fire Rolovich since at least early April, and Chun’s behavior was dishonest and discriminatory, according to the release. 

The release also alleges Chun and Rolovich attended a secret donor trip in July 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

Rolovich was paid $3 million per year. WSU will not have to pay the rest of his contract because he was fired with cause, according to a Daily Evergreen article. 

The Daily Evergreen attempted to contact Rolovich’s lawyer, Brian Fahling, and Phil Weiler, WSU vice president for marketing and communications, for comment but did not receive a response.