CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A volunteer assistant football coach at Northwest High School has been removed from the team after reportedly bringing a Bible to a game to lead a prayer, igniting a heated debate in the community and beyond.

The dismissal comes right after President Donald Trump announced that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting prayer in public schools.

"I have a chance to stand up and speak out for Coach Trey Campbell, and that's exactly what I am doing," Tres Wittum, a candidate in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special election, said. "I am talking about putting the Bible in schools, and I am partnering up with President Trump to do this."

Trump echoed that message at the Museum of the Bible Monday morning, telling his supporters, "We're defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God, and we will always be."

The controversy also recalls a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision, in which justices ruled 6-3 that a Washington state coach had a constitutional right to pray at the 50-yard line after games. The majority concluded the coach was acting as a private citizen, not in his capacity as a public school employee.

Critics argue that the decision blurred the line between personal expression and pressure on students to participate

"If this man had been Muslim and engaged in teaching Muslim religious teachings, these people would be going out of their minds," Ian Smith, staff attorney for Americans United for Separation of Church & State, said.

Other critics said it's blurring private prayer with pressure on students to join in.

"They kind of manipulated the facts," Chris Line, staff attorney for Freedom from Religion Foundation, said. "Coach Kennedy wasn't praying alone. He gathered players and prayed with them, and that impacts what's happening now in Clarksville."

In a statement, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools said:

"CMCSS is investigating the matter. Disappointingly, a news story was published on Saturday evening without reaching out to CMCSS for comment and only presented one side. It’s my understanding that the concern was not with private prayer, but that the principal received a concern that an employee was proselytizing in their official capacity. We will investigate, and I can share more when that investigation has concluded.

We are not able to conduct interviews or comment further until after the investigation has concluded."

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/clarksville/northwest-high-school-assistant-football-coach-removed-form-team-after-prayer-sparking-debate-over-faith-in-schools/