Recently, an atheist legal group has called for the University of South Carolina to take punitive action against its women’s basketball coach after she made comments about her belief in God after her team’s standout performance in the NCAA Tournament this year.
During an interview with the press after the University of South Carolina Gamecocks advanced into the Final Four for this year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, Coach Dawn Staley addressed “the devastating loss that we had last year.” However, Staley noted it “pulled us back here with a totally different team.” She continued, “If you don’t believe in God, something’s wrong with you.”
“I’m a believer because … He makes things come true,” she proudly stated. “When you’re at your worst, He’s at His best.” Staley’s comments are not at all unusual, as many athletes and coaches have been known to make similar statements, giving honor and glory to God.
However, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based legal activist group focusing on the separation of church and state, took issue with Staley’s remarks and issued a letter to the University of South Carolina.
Freedom From Religion staff attorney Christopher Line wrote to University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis asserting that “Staley’s ongoing promotion of her personal religious beliefs and her denigration of non-Christians through the women’s basketball program.”
“Current and future non-Christian and nonreligious players should feel welcome and respected as part of the women’s basketball team, not be told by their coach that they are on a team that is representing Jesus and that ‘if you don’t believe in God, something is wrong with you,'” the staff attorney continued.
Line urged the university to “take action to protect its student athletes and to ensure that Staley understands that she has been hired as a basketball coach and not a pastor.” Furthermore, the attorney cited “her constitutional duties under the Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and suggested the college inform her that she “may not promote religion in her capacity as head coach.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation lawyer additionally requested written notification of the actions the university is taking to ensure that the coach will not continue to “proselytize” the members of the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball team.
Staley has consistently made Christian remarks throughout the NCAA tournament. For example, she said after her team defeated Oregon State, “Last year, I thank God for even the loss,” she stated. “I don’t want to be one-sided … and to give Him the glory … is only befitting for wins.”
“To God be the Glory!! Thank you to all of our prayer warriors who call on the main line to help get us to another final four. I am not ashamed to praise him for what he continues to do for me and mine. If you’re a nonbeliever it wasn’t for you-wish you well with your beliefs,” Staley wrote in an Easter post on X. Staley’s bravery to share her faith so publicly is inspiring for Christians all around the nation.
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