If you google the original article, all of the parents were asked by the coach and gave permission, except one student. Some of the parents attended the service, too. The one student's mother is the only one mad about this. I think it was ok for all of the students whose parents gave verbal permission. I don't think he should have taken the one student that didn't have permission.
I belong to a evangelical church, and I wouldn't want my kids' coach taking him, even to our own church, without my permission.
I honestly don't know why that important fact was left out of this discussion. It seems that is what most people object to.