Nick Rolovich, former Washington State football coach, plans to sue the university over his termination.

Rolovich was fired on Monday after refusing to comply with the state's vaccine mandate.

An attorney for the former coach told ESPN that Rolovich was denied a religious exemption despite his devout Catholic faith.

Rolovich's attorney claims the university's athletic director, Pat Chun, has planned to fire Rolovich since April.

"Chun's animus towards Coach Rolovich's sincerely held religious beliefs, and Chun's dishonesty at the expense of Coach Rolovich during the past year, is damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation," Rolovich's attorney Brian Fahling said in a statement to ESPN.

A two-person panel decided whether religious exemptions would be granted. They did not know the applicant's name or job title, according to ESPN.

Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, has encouraged Catholics to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Washington State University has not commented on the threat of the lawsuit.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Washington State has fired football coach Nick Rolovich for refusing a state mandate that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19.

That's according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the university had not made an announcement and no one was yet authorized to speak publicly about the decision.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, had set a deadline of Monday for thousands of state employees, including the Cougars’ coach, to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or risk losing their jobs.

Rolovich had said he wouldn't get vaccinated, but wouldn't specify his reasons.

Several assistant coaches were also terminated, according to CBS Sports.

Washington State, 4-3, is scheduled to play BYU on Saturday.