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In Northville, Jim Zullo, the former girls' basketball coach at Northville High School, has publicly apologized after being fired for pulling a player's ponytail. The incident occurred on Friday night (March 21) after Northville lost to La Fargeville in the Class D state championship game at Hudson Valley Community College. Video footage captured Zullo pulling the hair of Hailey Monroe, a senior player, as the team lined up for the postgame ceremony.
Zullo, who is 81 years old and a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame, expressed deep regret for his actions. In a statement obtained by WNYT, Zullo said, "I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville. I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the good folks at Northville Central Schools, and our community. As a coach, under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry."
The Northville Central School District responded swiftly, stating that Zullo would no longer be coaching at the school. The district emphasized its commitment to maintaining a respectful and safe environment for its athletes. Board President Carolyn Wilcox stated, "We are turning our attention to our young athletes to ensure their well-being at this very difficult time."
Zullo's coaching career includes a state championship win with Shenendehowa High School in 1987. He began coaching the Northville girls' team in 2023, partly at the encouragement of his late wife. Despite the incident, Zullo expressed pride in his team's accomplishments and wished the players well in their future endeavors.