SEATTLE — A highschool soccer coach in Washington state who gained his job again after the U.S. Supreme Court dominated he may pray on the sphere resigned Wednesday after only one sport again.

Assistant Bremerton High School coach Joe Kennedy made the announcement on his web site, citing a number of causes, together with that he wanted to look after an ailing member of the family out of state. He had been dwelling full-time in Florida earlier than the soccer season began final Friday.

“I believe I can best continue to advocate for constitutional freedom and religious liberty by working from outside the school system so that is what I will do,” Kennedy wrote. “I will continue to work to help people understand and embrace the historic ruling at the heart of our case.”

Kennedy was not instantly accessible for remark Wednesday. His publicist, Jennifer Willingham, informed The Associated Press he was on a airplane again to Florida.

In an announcement, the Bremerton School District confirmed Kennedy had submitted his resignation. School officers declined to touch upon his exit, calling it a personnel matter.

Kennedy misplaced his job in 2015 and waged a seven-year authorized battle to get it again.

School district officers had requested him to maintain any on-field praying non-demonstrative or aside from college students, saying they had been involved that tolerating his public post-game prayers would recommend authorities endorsement of faith, in violation of the separation of church and state.

He insisted on praying publicly at midfield after video games, and the district positioned him on depart and declined to resume his contract.

Last 12 months, the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority sided with him, with Justice Neil Gorsuch writing that “the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike.”

Kennedy was again on the sideline for the primary time in practically eight years final Friday night time, however he mentioned beforehand that he had blended emotions about it and wasn’t positive he’d preserve teaching.

“Knowing that everybody’s expecting me to go do this kind of gives me a lot of angst in my stomach,” Kennedy informed the AP. “People are going to freak out that I’m bringing God back into public schools.”

After the sport - a 27-12 win over visiting Mount Douglas Secondary School - Kennedy strode alone to midfield, then knelt and prayed for about 10 seconds.

Kennedy was not joined by any athletes or others on the practically empty discipline. There was scattered applause from the modest crowd.

Kennedy’s struggle to get his job grew to become a cultural touchstone, pitting the non secular liberties of presidency staff towards longstanding ideas defending college students from non secular coercion. He appeared at a 2016 rally for Donald Trump.

He and his spouse not too long ago had dinner with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a GOP presidential hopeful who requested for his assistance on the marketing campaign path. Kennedy declined, saying he’s loyal to Trump.

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