Kennedy resigns following return to football field
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Bremerton High School’s opening football game Sept. 1 had been a milestone for assistant coach Joe Kennedy in his return to the football field following years of dispute with the Bremerton School District.
Less than a week later, he’s finished on his own terms.
A release provided by Kennedy’s publicist Sept. 6 stated that he had delivered his resignation effective immediately to the district that morning, information that was later confirmed by district officials.
“I appreciate the people of Bremerton, the coaches, staff and especially the students and wish them all well. Bremerton will always be home,” said Kennedy in his statement to the press.
The assistant coach had lost his position after the district first placed him on leave in 2015 and then declined to renew his contract over a dispute surrounding Kennedy’s prayers at midfield following football games. Years of legal battle led to the case being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, which awarded Kennedy both a return to coaching at Bremerton High and a huge victory in the eyes of religious freedom activists.
Kennedy returned to practices in mid-August and coached in the Sept. 1 game, his first game in eight years. “As I have demonstrated, we must make a stand for what we believe in,” he said. “In my case, I made a stand to take a knee. I encourage all Americans to make their own stand for freedom and our right to express our faith as we see fit.”
However, Kennedy now feels his message will carry better outside of the obligations of being both a coach and a district employee. The former coach has a book set to debut in mid-October, a movie is reportedly in pre-production, and he has continued to openly campaign in favor of religious freedoms, including his wearing of a “Take a Knee, Make a Stand” t-shirt during his press interview following the Sept. 1 contest.
“I will continue to work to help people understand and embrace the historic ruling at the heart of our case. As a result of our case, we all have more freedom, not less. That should be celebrated and not disrespected,” he said.
Kennedy also cited the need to care for an ailing family member among other reasons for leaving the program.
The coach had said after the game that he knew he would be at practice the following week, but resigning had not yet been decided on.
