EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — A New Jersey high school football coach has filed suit against the district in which his team plays, claiming it is violating his constitutional rights by prohibiting him from praying with his players before games. In the suit filed in Superior Court in Middlesex County Nov. 21, East Brunswick High School football coach Marcus Borden is asking the court to rule that he can silently nod his head during team prayers before pre-game meals with players and kneel with the team in the locker room.
Borden missed coaching one game Oct. 7, when he resigned in protest of a school board ruling saying he could not participate, lead, encourage or even be present at those traditional ceremonies or risk being charged with insubordination.
Borden rescinded his resignation within a week and hired Newark-based attorney Ronald Riccio to represent him in his quest to coach the team the way he had for the past 23 years.
School Superintendent Jo Ann Magistro referred all queries to the school board’s attorney, Martin Pachman of Freehold.
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