Interesting ADA/Disability conundrum (football related)

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

University of Minnesota Football Coach Jerry Kill has epilepsy.

 

Epilepsy can be controlled, but not contained, by prescription drugs.

 

Epileptic seizures can occur as a result of "high stress" conditions that the individual gets involved in, regardless of prescription drugs.

 

Is it fair to the university and its football players that the Coach may not be available during the heat of a game?

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/223778271.html

 

 

[Koko78]

Sounds like he just needs to rub some dirt on it and walk it off.

 

Seriously though, the school would get the crap sued out of them if they fired him because he might have a seizure on the field. They simply need to take whatever precautions are necessary for both his health and for someone to take over HC duties, and hope that his ability to coach the team outweighs any potential issues with him having an episode on the field.

[Rob's House]

If he really can't be available in the heat of the game then the law is on the team's side because he has to be able to perform the essential functions of his job with or without reasonable accommodation for the ADA to protect his job. I'd wager that being on the sidelines at the key moments of the game falls under essential functions of the game, but I wouldn't want to roll the dice on a jury having enough sense to understand that.