Northville High School basketball coach Jim Zullo has been fired after a viral video showed him pulling a female player’s hair and berating her. The incident occurred on March 21 after Northville lost to La Fargeville 43-37 in the New York State Class D championship.
During the live-streamed event, Zullo grabbed Hailey Monroe’s ponytail and began shouting at her. Teammate Ahmya Tompkins stepped in, telling him, “Leave her. That’s not okay.” When she repeated, “No, leave her,” Zullo snapped back, “You shut it.”

The footage spread quickly online, sparking outrage. The Northville Central School District confirmed Zullo’s dismissal, stating they were “deeply disturbed” by his behavior and reaffirming their commitment to respect and integrity in athletics.

Zullo later issued an apology, calling his actions “unacceptable.” He expressed regret, saying, “Under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry. I wish I could have those moments back.” He also praised his team, stating, “I am super proud of every one of these young women and what they accomplished.”Despite his apology, the controversy highlights concerns over coaching conduct and athlete safety in school sports.