HS Football Coach Placed on Administrative Leave for Praying on the Field

SSG Don Boland - You do have the right to pray. However, if you are a government employee you do not have the right to impose those beliefs while executing your official duties. A coach who is paid out of tax money is representing their respective level of government while on the field. Any action that is taken during that time reflects upon the government. As such, any displays while in performance of one's official duties is viewed as "respecting an establishment of religion" and is explicitly forbidden by the Constitution. In this case the school did in fact offer him an accommodation so that he could pray without violating the Constitution. He refused and placed his personal feelings above his duty as a public servant to remain neutral in performing his duties. Everyone wants to hold up the first amendment rights, but they always seem to exclude the first part of that very amendment.