A college football coach who is under fire from atheist activists who claim that he is pushing his Christian beliefs on players has responded, claiming that he has never forced students to accept his religious views.
University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt dismissed claims from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which released a recent report saying that he and his brother-in-law, Kevin "Chappy" Hynes — a chaplain for the team — are using their positions to push Christianity among Bulldogs players, the Telegraph reported.
"We’re at a secular university, I understand that. I don’t try to make anyone believe a certain way at all," Richt said. "Anything that has to do with the spirit is strictly voluntary and never has any bearing on someone’s availability to play at Georgia. It’s always been that way."
The coach explained that any activities pertaining to academic achievement are mandatory, but that religious participation is not.
Head coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs watches his team play against the Louisville Cardinals during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 30, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
"Anything that has to do with growing spiritually, which I encourage our guys to grow spiritually, I believe our spirit is going to live beyond our body," Richt said. "I encourage them to grow spiritually but I don’t tell them what to believe in. Everything we do is strictly voluntary in that regard."
The coach's response came after the Freedom From Religion Foundation called on University of Georgia president Jere Morehead to ax the position of team football chaplain, which is currently held by Hynes, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
Richt was also accused of using his position to raise money for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a faith-based group, via a 2014 event that was reportedly hosted at the college.
"At the University of Georgia, Coach Mark Richt fundraises for his brother-in-law’s chaplain position and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes," the atheist group said in a recent report. "At a gala event in the Butts-Mehre football complex in July of 2014, Richt helped bring in big money for the FCA. The gala featured a silent auction with UGA memorabilia, including an 'authentic Todd Gurley home red jersey.'"
These allegations were made in a recent report published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation titled, "Pray to Play" — a 25-page document that reportedly shows coaches and chaplains pushing their faith at public universities across America.
"Some coaches think that students need to be Christian in order to be good people," the Freedom From Religion Foundation said in a statement, proceeding to dismiss such a claim.
