New York High School basketball coach fired after ponytail incident apologizes
Northville High School basketball coach Jim Zullo was fired after pulling a player's ponytail following a championship loss. This is his apology and the school's response.
Jim Zullo, a Hall of Fame high school basketball coach in upstate New York, has issued a public apology after being fired for an incident in which he pulled the ponytail of one of his players.
The controversial moment occurred on March 22, 2025, following Northville High School’s 43-37 loss to La Fargeville in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D final at Hudson Valley Community College.
What did Jim Zullo do?
After losing the tournament, Hailey Monroe, Northville's senior star was seen in the video standing beside her teammates. Zullo is seen approaching her from behind and pulling her ponytail, apparently reprimanding her. Her friend Ahmya Tompkins, Zullo's great-niece, reacted quickly and stopped him.
The public reaction was fierce and Zullo received inmediate backlash. Following the incident, the school district released a statement on Facebook, “The Northville Central School District is aware of, and deeply disturbed by, the conduct of the Coach of the Girls’ Varsity basketball team during the Class D New York State championship game,” they also said coach Jim Zullo, was fired.
Jim Zullo's public apology
Jim Zullo released a statement through NBC affiliate WNYT of Albany, expressing regret over his actions.
“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.”