ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) – A high school basketball coach has been fired after he was caught on camera yanking a player’s ponytail.
Video captured Northville High School basketball star Hailey Monroe visibly upset on the sidelines after losing Friday’s state championship game.
Her coach, 81-year-old Hall of Famer Jim Zullo, walks up behind her and yanks her ponytail in a harsh manner.
You can’t hear what Zullo is saying to Monroe, but you can see fellow senior Ahmya Tompkins step in to defend her teammate, seemingly saying, “Don’t do that.” The video then shows the coach arguing with Tompkins and pointing a finger at her.
In a statement Saturday afternoon, the Hudson Valley Community College Department of Public Safety said it was investigating the incident, along with other law enforcement agencies.
The Troy Police Department said as of Saturday, no reports or charges had been filed.
In a statement Friday, the Northville Central School District announced it had fired Zullo, saying his behavior was completely unacceptable.
Zullo first started coaching in the 1970s. In 1987, he won a state title with Shenendehowa High School. He also coached at Broadalbin-Perth High School.
In 2006, he was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2023, he came out of retirement to coach Northville. In 2024, the team made it to the state championship but lost.
On Thursday, prior to the incident, Zullo said he was happy that the team was heading to the state championship.
“It’s great, we worked hard, we worked all summer, fall and spring for this. The kids really worked hard, they deserve to be here,” he said.
Monroe also said on Thursday, prior to the championship game, that Northville is a team that “doesn’t want to lose.”
“If you don’t want to lose, you out-effort and out hustle the other team, and you won’t lose. It’s something I’ve wanted since I started playing high school basketball,” she said.
The New York State Public High School Association said it won’t comment on the situation.
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