Circuit Court Rules Athletic Director’s Protected Speech Merits Remand

The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a district judge’s grant of summary judgment, finding that an athletic director was engaged in protected speech when he criticized a coach and was subsequently fired.   Specifically, the court found that there may have been a connection between the district’s decision and the AD’s protected speech, which centered on his criticism of the head football coach for his support of creatine use and allowing the hazing of football players.