Navy football assistant coach Billy Ray Stutzmann was fired Monday for failing to comply with an athletic department mandate that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Stutzmann posted the news to his Twitter account Monday and thanked Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo for the opportunity. Stutzmann, who was in his third season with the program, cited religious reasons for declining the coronavirus vaccine.
“Based on my religious convictions, and after much thought and prayer, I am unable to follow the requirements of the Naval Academy’s COVID-19 policy,” Stutzmann wrote. “After applying for a religious exemption and attempting to further negotiate alternative working arrangements, I was ultimately relieved of my duties here at Navy.