Washington State was justified in firing Nick Rolovich as head football coach because of his refusal to comply with the state's COVID-19 vaccination requirements, a federal judge has ruled. He claimed that as a Catholic, he was exempted from the state's vaccine mandate but his exemption request had been denied. U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice ruled on Monday that Washington State could not accommodate Rolovich without undue hardship, including increased travel costs and hindered recruitment and fundraising efforts. Rice also found no basis for Rolovich's objection to the vaccine on religious grounds. This alone is a basis for denying Plaintiff's claimed religious objection."