High School Basketball: Coach cited for harassment after pulling a player’s hair
a new york The high school basketball coach was fired over the weekend for pulling the hair of one of his players after losing a state championship game, but was quoted in second-degree harassment this week, officials said.
81-year-old Jim Zullo was fired as head coach from his job Northville High School The women’s varsity basketball team on Sunday after the Falcons were caught up in a video pulling the hair of player Hailey Monroe after losing the Class D State Final to Largeville Central School on Friday night.
Jim Zulo, Left, female manager of Northville High School, on March 4, 2024 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York. (Sam Zullo via AP)
The Northville Central School District issued a statement announcing the decision, calling Zullo’s actions “deeply disturbed.”
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“We hold our coaches to the highest standards of professionalism, sportsmanship and respect for student-athletes, and this action is completely unacceptable. The district is committed to ensuring that this type of action does not have a place within our program and will continue to support the value of respect and integrity that athletes, families and communities expect and value.
“This individual is no longer coaching the Northville Central School District,” the statement continued. “We assure the public that this issue is being taken very seriously and the district is actively working on it. The district will follow up with the affected players and their families to support and outline the actions they are taking in response to this incident.”
The incident occurred when both teams lined up at a post-match ceremony. This included handshakes between players and presentations of awards at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
On Monday, the Hudson Valley Community College Public Safety Bureau issued a statement confirming that Zullo had met with the officers and tickets for the exterior were issued Second harassment.
He will return to court at a later date.
Zullo issued a statement over the weekend, apologizing for his actions.
Jim Zullo was issued a second harassing exterior ticket on Monday by the Hudson Valley Community College Public Safety Agency. (istock)
“We deeply regret our actions after losing to Lageville on Friday night in the Class D State Championship Game. We would like to offer a sincere apologies to Haley and her family, our team, and the good people in Northville Central School and the community,” he said in a statement. Obtained by WNYT.
“As a coach, it’s acceptable to put your hands on a player under any circumstances. I’m really sorry. I want to give back those moments. I’m grateful for the past two years, especially last season, for the opportunity to coach women’s basketball in Northville, which has been particularly difficult for my family.
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Zullo previously won the state championship with the Shenendehowa High School Bosy ‘Basketball team in 1987, and advanced to the state finals in each of two seasons against the Northville women’s team.
He worked there in 2023 at the request of his wife. He was battling cancer at the time. She passed away that season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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