Navy has parted ways with offensive assistant Billy Ray Stutzmann.

The third-year assistant posted on Twitter that he has been relieved of his duties for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine, which is required of all Navy athletics coaches and staff. In his statement, Stutzman wrote that his “religious convictions” prevented him from following Naval Academy COVID-19 policies. He had previously applied for a religious exemption and alternative working arrangements, but he was ultimately let go.

“I continue to stand firm in my conviction of faith, but I understand and respect that each individual and institution has a choice on how they wish to manage these issues,” Stutzmann wrote. “I wish Navy Football nothing but the best in the future.

Stutzmann joined the Navy coaching staff in 2019 after serving as an offensive intern with Hawaii. He received a strong recommendation from Va‘a Niumatalolo, whose father is Navy’s head coach. Ken Niumatalolo was a former UH quarterback and assistant coach.