- Isaac Ferrell has been fired as Tattnall County High School football coach
- Ferrell hosted a baptism ceremony behind the field for 20 players on October 23
- The school board has decided to keep him in the district as a teacher
A high school football coach in Georgia was fired after holding a baptism for his players on the school grounds.
Isaac Ferrell was fired from his coaching position at Tattnall County High School after 20 players were baptized by a local pastor behind the Battle Creek Warriors football field on Oct. 23.
Ferrell has admitted to organizing the ceremony for the team after posting videos of it on his Facebook that have since been deleted.
Tattnall County Schools Superintendent Kristen Waters said Ferrell was fired from his coaching position after the baptism and another undisclosed incident but still works in the district as a teacher.
Isaac Ferrell was fired as the school’s football coach, but still serves as a teacher in the district
A total of twenty players lined up to get into the big black bucket of water and have their heads immersed by a local pastor. Video of the baptisms was posted online
Waters said Fox28 that the secondary school is actively looking for a new football coach ‘who better suits the interests of the district.’
Video of the ceremony was also shared on the team’s Facebook page, with pastor Gary Few having each player sit in a large black tub of water as he submerged their heads.
“I baptize you now, my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Few said in the video.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation, a “state/church watchdog,” was alerted to the baptism by a concerned member of the community.
Chris Line, the foundation’s staff attorney, sent a letter to Waters requesting an investigation into the incident, saying it was illegal under the First Amendment.
He claimed the ceremony was a “constitutional violation” and that Ferrell should not be allowed to baptize students or preach religion.
Line added that the school district should “refrain from infusing religion into its football program.”
According to the foundation’s website, “the FFRF works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church.”
The naming ceremony took place on October 23 behind the Battle Creek Warriors football field
Tattnall County Schools Superintendent Kristen Waters decided to fire Ferrell as coach, saying the school is looking for a new one “that better aligns with the interests of the district.”
Gary Few, a local pastor, conducted the baptism ceremony on October 23
Although Ferrell’s decision was decried by the district, many who saw the event on social media praised the coach and pastor’s actions.
One commentator said: ‘That coach changes lives… and doesn’t just win games!’
Latifa Johnson, a parent of one of the players who was baptized, shared WSAV: ‘I was very proud of him because he made the decision himself.’
“I didn’t have to hold his hand, and he did it because he wanted to.”
Ferrell’s decision received widespread support, but others on social media chimed in, saying, “Good. He should be fired. Keep your religion to yourself!’
In an Instagram post shared by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, one commenter said, “This shit pisses me off. And you know there was pressure on the guys to do it. If someone were to baptize my child at school, I would be LIVID.”
Waters added that Ferrell was forced to resign from his coaching position after a separate incident that occurred on Nov. 3.
The district does not reveal what exactly happened, but it does say that it took place that day after a football match.
DailyMail.com reached out to Ferrell for comment, but he did not respond in time for this report.