An Illinois State football coach abruptly quit his job and left an “All Lives Matter” sign on his office door on his way out.
“All Lives Matter to Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ,” was on Illinois State offensive coordinator Kurt Beathard’s office door last week when he abruptly quit.
Multiple sources told the local outlet the Pantagraph that Beathard was caught in the midst of drama concerning a Black Lives Matter poster that disappeared from a locker room wall earlier this year.
Beathard said he did not remove the Black Lives Matter sign.
“That locker room crap is wrong. I took the sign down somebody put on my door. That’s it,” Beathard said. “I didn’t take anything off that wasn’t put on my door. I wrote the message.”
Beathard, who is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Beathard, had been with the team since 2014 and took two years off to spend more time with family before making a return in 2018.
Three months ago, Beathard’s wife died of cancer.
“Tomorrow will be three months since I lost my best friend and love of my life. With all this crap the devil has stirred up in this world, think about and treasure what ‘really’ matters…Our God almighty and loved ones. Earnestly pray! I’m so jealous of all that have already gone ‘home’ to be with Jesus. You’re smiling baby. I miss you so much! God is so good!” he said on social media earlier this month.
Beathard’s message of “All Lives Matter” comes as professional and college sports teams work to embrace the Black Lives Matter movement, including wearing helmets and other gear showing the names of black Americans who died during interactions with police.
