A high school football coach has been relieved of his duties weeks after holding a baptism service for players on school grounds.
Kristen Waters, who is superintendent of Tattnall County Board of Education in Georgia, said in a statement that Tattnall County High School head football coach Isaac Ferrell was terminated following an incident that occurred after a game on Nov. 3.
“The safety and security of our students is paramount to Tattnall County Board of Education,” Waters said. “Based on the outcome of an investigation into an incident that occurred Friday night, November 3rd while traveling after the football game, the District decided that it would seek a Head football coach that aligned with the best interests of the students of Tattnall County for the 2024-2025 school year.”
“As to any other allegations, the District does not comment during ongoing investigations,” Waters added.
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According to WSBTV, Ferrell is still employed at the school as a teacher. The district has not elaborated on the details of the Nov. 3 incident.
Just weeks before being relieved of his coaching duties, Ferrell came under fire from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) for holding a baptism service for players after practice on school grounds.
A video posted to the football team’s official Facebook page on Oct. 24 shows student athletes being baptized by pastor Gary Few of Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church in Claxton, Georgia, in a makeshift baptistry.
The post indicated that 20 members of the team chose to be baptized.
Latifa Johnson, whose son was one of the students who was baptized, expressed gratitude.
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“I was extremely proud of him because he made the decision on his own. I didn’t have to hold his hand, and he did it because he wanted to do it,” Johnson, who said that she found out about the baptisms from Facebook, told News 3.
