Tennessee —

FFRF received a report that the Richland High School softball program and the Giles County High School soccer, basketball, baseball and softball programs in Pulaski, Tenn., were permitting FCA “character coaches” and other adult FCA leaders to regularly attend sports practices to deliver religious talks to the teams. The FCA organization involved in Giles County, Southwest Middle TN FCA, has direct statements of their Christian faith on their website homepage.

Several social media posts demonstrated the involvement of FCA character coaches with various athletics programs within the district, such as posts naming specific character coaches for specific teams that discussed “sharing the hope and love of Jesus.” Posts stretched back as far as 2020, indicating that the district had a years-long pattern and practice of routinely permitting FCA character coaches to enter school property and proselytize to captive audiences of young student athletes, regardless of whether the students were all voluntary FCA members or not.

“Here, it is clear that both Richland and Giles County high schools have crossed the constitutional line by allowing these FCA ‘character coaches’ to entangle the schools’ athletic programs with Christianity,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. “These individuals are inappropriately leading entire teams in prayer and delivering religious talks to them.”

After FFRF sent the district a letter, School Board Attorney Timothy P. Underwood responded on behalf of the district. Underwood confirmed that the district director of schools met with Underwood to discuss the contents of FFRF’s letter as well as the social media posts proving FCA representatives interacted with district student athletes.

“It is our goal, before the commencement of any athletic events during the upcoming school year, to meet with our coaches directly and confirm they understand the legal requirements and their duties as coaches,” Underwood wrote. “Based on that discussion, my client will continue to monitor all extracurricular activities to confirm that no religious belief, or non-belief, is being promoted by the school system.” Underwood additionally invited FFRF to reach out if any further concerns were to arise regarding the district.

The post High School soccer, basketball, baseball and softball programs in Tennessee, were permitting FCA “character coaches” to deliver religious talks to the teams. (September 2025) appeared first on Freedom From Religion Foundation.