Incident Overview

A high school girls basketball coach from Northville High School has been terminated and charged following a troubling incident caught on camera. The event occurred after a November 3rd state championship game where Northville faced La Fargeville.

Details of the Incident

During the post-game handshake, coach Jim Zullo was recorded pulling the ponytail of senior player Hailey Monroe. This action caused Monroe to jerk backward as a teammate intervened to protect her, subsequently confronting Zullo.

According to reports, Zullo claimed that Monroe had directed a profanity toward him as he instructed her to acknowledge the opposing team. The video of the incident was streamed online through NFHS Network.

Consequences and Reactions

As a result of the incident, Jim Zullo has been officially charged with misdemeanor harassment. The Northville Central School District responded swiftly by terminating his coaching position.

“We hold our coaches to the highest standards of professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect for our student-athletes, and this behavior is completely unacceptable,” stated a spokesperson for the school district. They emphasized their commitment to ensuring such conduct is not tolerated and pledged support to the affected players and their families.

The district aims to uphold values of respect and integrity within its programs, reflecting the expectations of families and the community.

Coach’s Apology

In light of the incident, Zullo issued a public apology, expressing remorse for his actions. He stated, “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.”