If there’s someone who knows how to fight for what you believe in, it’s Coach Joe. He is a man of heroic persistence and courage—willing to stand his ground even after being fired for simply kneeling in brief, quiet and personal prayer. And although the courts denyed his constitutional rights, Coach Joe—a former Marine—didn’t back down. In fact, he won at the highest court in America – the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2008, Bremerton High School football coach Joe Kennedy made a promise to God that he would pray and give thanks after each game he coached, regardless of the outcome. This commitment to a simple, private act of worship caused him to be stripped of his position as a coach and forced into a lengthy, ongoing legal battle against the school he faithfully served.
On Monday June 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court gave summary judgement and a victory in the case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. First Liberty has fought for Coach Kennedy through an almost seven-year legal battle and the Court protected the right of Coach to live out his faith, including praying in public, without the fear of punishment.
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Get an inside look at what led to Coach
Kennedy’s situation today, what this case
means for people of faith, and the X’s
and O’s of our game plan for returning
Coach Joe to the field.
Before coaching football, Coach Kennedy served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, proudly defending your rights and freedoms under the U.S. Constitution. Serving gave him a special sense of appreciation for what our country represents, and the freedoms that we enjoy.
When the Bremerton School District in Washington state fired him for kneeling in quiet prayer, Coach Kennedy – a Marine who served in combat during Operation Desert Storm – was ready. He had no plans to run from the fight to defend his right to live out his faith. For him, the fight had just begun.
Learn How 20 Years in the Marine Corps Gave Him the Courage to Kneel
Photo of Coach Kennedy during the Gulf War. Pictured from left to right U.S. Marines: Jurado, Joseph Kennedy, Rodriguez, Wallace; Bottom: Luna.
Before he even coached his first game, this Marine Corps veteran turned football coach made a commitment to God that he would give thanks after every game—win or lose—for the opportunity to be a football coach and lead his players into battle.
So after his very first football game in 2008, Coach Kennedy waited until the players cleared the field, then took a knee in quiet prayer. This continued after each game for seven years—and no students, coaches or parents ever complained about it.
In fact, it was actually a compliment that caused him to start taking heat. After initially being told by a school administrator how grateful they were for his leadership and example, Coach Kennedy received an official letter from the school district ordering him to stop praying after games. After a request for religious accommodation was denied, he was ultimately suspended.
As a man of faith, Coach Joe made an agreement with God—that if he ever had the opportunity to become a football coach, he would give God the glory after every game.
For Coach Kennedy, that meant going to the 50 yard-line to kneel down in a brief, quiet prayer – win or lose. That was his commitment to God. Not showing up, was never an option.
One of the most important principles in football, in athletics, and in life, is—always give 100%. And Coach Kennedy was determined to give 100% in his commitment to God.
Watch Coach Kennedy talk about his journey to finding faith, fulfilling his calling on the football field, and what this fight means to him
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