What Happened to Washington State Cougars Football Coach?
The Washington State Cougars football program has experienced significant coaching changes in recent years, marked by the controversial firing of Nick Rolovich in 2021, the successful but ultimately departing tenure of Jake Dickert, a transitional 2025 season under Jimmy Rogers and interim Jesse Bobbit, and the current leadership of Kirby Moore, who was appointed in December 2025. The program continues to navigate conference realignments and maintain competitive football.
Quick Answer
The current head football coach for the Washington State Cougars is Kirby Moore, who was appointed on December 12, 2025. He took over after a transitional 2025 season that saw Jimmy Rogers as head coach for the regular season and Jesse Bobbit as interim for the bowl game, following Jake Dickert's departure to Wake Forest in December 2024. This period of change began with the highly publicized firing of Nick Rolovich in October 2021 due to his refusal to comply with Washington state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Nick Rolovich Hired as Head Coach
Nick Rolovich was hired as the head football coach for the Washington State Cougars.
Washington State COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Announced
Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced a state mandate requiring all state employees, including university staff, to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021.
Nick Rolovich Fired for Vaccine Non-Compliance
Nick Rolovich was fired as head coach of the Washington State Cougars for refusing to comply with the state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate after his religious exemption request was denied. Four assistant coaches were also terminated.
Jake Dickert Named Interim Head Coach
Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert was immediately named the interim head coach following Nick Rolovich's termination.
Jake Dickert Appointed Permanent Head Coach
After a successful interim period, Jake Dickert was officially named the permanent head coach of the Washington State Cougars.
Nick Rolovich Files Lawsuit Against WSU
Nick Rolovich filed a lawsuit against Washington State University, seeking $25 million in damages for alleged wrongful termination and religious discrimination.
Jake Dickert Receives Contract Extension
Jake Dickert's contract was extended through the 2027 season, rewarding his success in leading the Cougars to back-to-back bowl appearances.
Jake Dickert Departs for Wake Forest
Jake Dickert left Washington State to accept the head coaching position at Wake Forest University.
Pete Kaligis Serves as Interim Head Coach for Holiday Bowl
Following Dickert's departure, Pete Kaligis was named interim head coach for the 2024 Holiday Bowl.
Judge Rules in Favor of WSU in Rolovich Lawsuit
A federal judge ruled that Washington State University was justified in firing Nick Rolovich, siding with the university in his wrongful termination lawsuit.
Jimmy Rogers Leads Cougars as Head Coach
Jimmy Rogers served as the head coach for the Washington State Cougars during the 2025 regular season, leading the team to a 6-6 record before departing for Iowa State.
Jesse Bobbit Serves as Interim for Bowl Game
After Jimmy Rogers' departure, Jesse Bobbit took over as interim head coach for the 2025 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Kirby Moore Named Head Coach
Kirby Moore, previously the offensive coordinator at Missouri, was announced as the 36th head football coach of the Washington State Cougars, signing a five-year contract.
Kirby Moore Begins First Full Season
Kirby Moore officially begins his first full season as the head coach of the Washington State Cougars, navigating the team through a new era of college football.
Nick Rolovich's Lawsuit Appeal Ongoing
As of today, Nick Rolovich's appeal of the federal judge's ruling in his lawsuit against WSU is ongoing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The recent history of the Washington State Cougars football coaching position has been characterized by a series of high-profile changes and legal battles. The tumultuous period began with the firing of head coach Nick Rolovich on October 18, 2021. Rolovich was dismissed for failing to comply with Washington state's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state employees, despite seeking a religious exemption that was ultimately denied. This decision also led to the termination of four assistant coaches.
Following Rolovich's dismissal, defensive coordinator Jake Dickert was named interim head coach and then officially appointed as the permanent head coach in November 2021. Dickert quickly brought stability to the program, leading the Cougars to back-to-back bowl appearances and becoming the first coach in WSU history to achieve this in his first two seasons. His success earned him a contract extension through the 2027 season in January 2023. However, Dickert's tenure concluded in December 2024 when he accepted the head coaching position at Wake Forest.
The departure of Dickert led to another period of transition. Pete Kaligis served as interim head coach for the 2024 Holiday Bowl. For the 2025 regular season, Jimmy Rogers was hired as head coach, leading the Cougars to a 6-6 record. Rogers, who had previously led South Dakota State to an FCS championship, departed for Iowa State after the regular season. Jesse Bobbit then stepped in as interim head coach for the 2025 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl before also moving to Iowa State as defensive coordinator.
On December 12, 2025, Kirby Moore was officially named the 36th head football coach of the Washington State Cougars, agreeing to a five-year contract. Moore, a former offensive coordinator at the University of Missouri, brings a strong offensive background and local ties to the program. As of September 6, 2026, Moore is leading the Cougars into his first full season, inheriting a program that has seen significant roster turnover due to the transfer portal and is navigating a new conference landscape. Meanwhile, Nick Rolovich's lawsuit against Washington State University, seeking $25 million for wrongful termination and religious discrimination, was ruled in favor of the university by a federal judge in January 2025. Rolovich is currently appealing this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Washington State Cougars Football Coach made different choices?