A lip reader has revealed what high school basketball coach Jim Zullo said after yanking the ponytail of one of his star players and berating her following their team’s loss.
The violent incident, which quickly made the rounds on social media, led to Zullo being fired as head coach of the Northville High School team. The 61-year-old is also facing charges of harassment in the second degree.
Highlights
- High school coach Jim Zullo was fired and now faces harassment charges for pulling a player’s hair after they lost a game
- A clip of the incident, which took place in Troy, New York, sparked outrage on social media
- Lip reader Nicola Hickling said one of the girl’s teammates told the coach to leave her alone, but he responded aggressively
Coach Jim Zullo was caught on camera pulling player Hailey Monroe’s ponytail and berating her after a game
Image credits: Northville Central School District
The attack occurred after Northville lost 43-37 to La Fargeville in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D final in Troy.
Footage shows Hailey Monroe, who had reportedly scored 12 points, standing with her teammates after the game and appearing upset.
Cameras then captured coach Zullo coming from behind and pulling Monroe's hair before Ahmya Tompkins, one of her teammates, who is also Zullo's great-niece, intervened in defense of Monroe.
Image credits: Mr_JCE
According to Nicola Hickling, the founder of LipReader, Tompkins told the coach: "Leave her. That's not okay."
When Zullo paid no attention to her request, she repeated, "No, leave her."
The coach then turned to the players and leaned toward them, saying, "You shut it."
One of Monroe’s teammates intervened and confronted the coach
Image credits: Mr_JCE
A complaint for harassment was reportedly made on Sunday (March 23), and "peace officers" met with the coach the following day to issue him an appearance ticket, a written notice that directs a person to appear in court.
Zullo will report to Troy City Court at a later date.
In New York, harassment in the second degree is a violation, not a crime. If found guilty, the coach could face punishment of up to $250 in fines and community service. He could also be sentenced to 15 days in jail.
According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, the teammate said, "Leave her. That's not okay"
Image credits: Northville Central School District
Speaking with NBC affiliate WNYT, Zullo apologized to the young basketball player and expressed regret for his behavior.
"I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the good folks at Northville Central Schools and our community," he said.
"As a coach, under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry."
Zullo faces harassment charges, which could lead to a fine or up to 15 days in jail
Image credits: Northville Central School District
In a statement, the Northville Central School District condemned Zullo's actions and announced he would no longer be coaching at the school district.
"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," the school district shared on social media.
"The District is committed to ensuring that this type of behavior has no place within our programs, and we will continue to uphold the values of respect and integrity that our athletes, families, and community expect and deserve.
"This individual will no longer be coaching for the Northville Central School District."
The coach publicly apologized for his behavior, saying: "Under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player"
Image credits: Mr_JCE
Zullo is a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame. According to his profile, he was named Coach of the Year numerous times by the league and the media.
His family said he had come out of retirement to coach at Northville at the urging of his wife so he could stay occupied.
His son, Sam Zullo, who is also a girls basketball coach, declined to comment on the incident, saying his focus was on helping his father and their family navigate the situation.
The Northville Central School District said it was “deeply disturbed” by Zullo’s conduct, and he would no longer coach at the district
Image credits: Northville Central School District
The world of high school sports saw another scandal this month when Alaila Everett, a senior track star at I.C. Norcom High School, struck competitor Kaelen Tucker of Brookville High School in the head with a baton, causing a concussion.
Everett maintains it was an accident and claims the video doesn't accurately reflect what happened.
"My baton got stuck behind her back like this," she said, gesturing upward, "and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance, and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit.
"I know my intention is that I would never hit somebody on purpose."
Meanwhile, Tucker insists that her opponent's actions were intentional. "I still can't believe it; I'm in shock. I'm still trying to take it all in; I can't believe it happened," she said. "Why did you do it, and why haven't you apologized?"
Netizens slammed the high school coach for yanking the player's ponytail
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In the scenario where sports and personal life intersect, it can become a delicate balance for athletes and coaches alike. This theme resonates strongly in the instance of Sarunas Jasikevicius's decisive yet empathetic choice, allowing Augusto Lima to be present for a life-changing family moment. Similarly, a recent incident at Northville High School underscores the importance of maintaining respect and integrity, as well as the significant impact on player-coach relationships.
For further insights, you can explore how family values influenced basketball decisions in high-stakes environments.