The upstate New York Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach apologized Sunday as he was fired over the weekend for his star player’s ponytails and appears to have veered her after emotional loss.
The incident unfolds after Northville High School lost 43-37 to Lageville in the New York State High School Athletic Association D Final at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
Northville’s Hailey Monroe is a Falcons star senior who scored 12 points in the loss and appeared to be crying as he stood with his teammates after the game.
The camera then filmed Falcon coach Jim Zullo from behind and pulled Monroe’s hair. Zullo appeared to be screaming at Monroe before his teammate Ahmia Tompkins stepped in.
Tompkins is coach great, reported by Schenectady’s Daily Official Gazette and other local press.
“The Northville Central School District is deeply disturbed as it recognizes the actions of coaches on the women’s varsity basketball team during the Class D New York State Championship Game,” the district told social media on Saturday.
“The district is committed to ensuring that this type of action does not have a place within our program, and we continue to support the value of respect and integrity that athletes, families and communities expect and deserve.
In a statement obtained by Albany’s NBC affiliate WNYT, Zuro apologised for his actions and said he wanted them back.
“I want to offer a sincere apologies to Haley and her family, our team, to good people in Northville Central School and our community,” he said. “As a coach, I’m not accepting to put my hands on a player under any circumstances. I’m really sorry.”
District school board members declined to comment beyond social media statements.
“This is currently a HR issue,” board member Carolyn Wilcox wrote in an email. “We are focusing our attention on young athletes to ensure their well-being during these extremely difficult times.”
Zulo was a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame, and previously led Schenendeha High School to a large school Class A state title in 1987.
He reportedly escaped from retirement with the encouragement of his wife.
“She was my dad’s biggest supporter and biggest fan,” son Sam Zullo, who coached the Connecticut women’s basketball team, told The Associated Press. “She was my biggest supporter and biggest fan.”
In a statement, Zullo expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach the basketball team. “Last season was a difficult time, especially for our family.”
He said he was proud of the girls and wanted them well.
This was the second consecutive time in Northville, a small school with around 235 students in grades 6-12, and was kicked out by Hammond in the title game last year.
