Former Virginia Tech Soccer Player Alleges Coach Forced Her Off Team After Standing For National Anthem

A former NCAA Division I soccer player filed a lawsuit against her former coach for allegedly engaging in a “campaign of abuse and retaliation” after she refused to kneel during the national anthem.

Kiersten Hening, who played for the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team, alleges that head coach Chugger Adair’s opposing political views led her to be benched and leave the team. Adair is being represented by attorneys paid for by the university.

“Hening’s stance was costly – too costly,” says the lawsuit, which was filed on March 3. “Her coach dislikes Hening’s political views. Because she refused to kneel, he benched her, subjected her to repeated verbal abuse, and forced her off the team.”