A girls' high school basketball coach in upstate New York has been fired after an explosive sideline altercation was caught on camera — and new details suggest the heated moment may have been even worse than it appeared.
Jim Zullo - a longtime figure in New York’s high school sports scene and a member of the state’s Basketball Hall of Fame - was dismissed from his role as head coach at Northville High School after cameras captured him grabbing a player by her ponytail and appearing to berate her after a devastating loss in the Class D state finals.
Check out the distressing footage below:
The incident occurred on Friday, March 21, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, following Northville’s 43-37 defeat to La Fargeville in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D championship.
The dramatic confrontation was live-streamed and quickly went viral, sparking outrage from viewers and calls for accountability.
What the Video Showed
Footage shows Northville senior Hailey Monroe — who scored 12 points in the game — visibly emotional and in tears during post-game handshakes.
As her teammates stood nearby, Monroe reportedly swore at Zullo after he told her to shake hands with the opposing team.
Moments later, Zullo is seen grabbing Monroe’s ponytail from behind and appearing to shout at her.
Another player, identified as Ahmya Tompkins — who is reportedly Zullo’s great-niece — stepped in between the coach and Monroe in an attempt to deescalate the situation.
Lip Reader Claims Reveal More of the Exchange
Now, new insights from lip reader Nicola Hickling, shared with the Mail Online, are adding fuel to the fire. According to Hickling, when Tompkins intervened, she told Zullo: "Leave her. That's not okay."
Zullo allegedly continued confronting Monroe, prompting Tompkins to repeat, "No, leave her."
Hickling claims Zullo then snapped at the player with: "You shut it."
District Responds Swiftly
The Northville Central School District acted quickly following public backlash. In a statement shared on social media and reported by NBC News, the district confirmed Zullo would no longer be coaching.
“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 statement read.
“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.”
Zullo Issues Public Apology
In the days following the incident, Zullo issued a public apology, acknowledging the inappropriateness of his behavior.
“I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game,” he stated, according to NBC affiliate WNYT of Albany.
“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 added. “As a coach, 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."
Zullo also expressed gratitude for his time with the team: “I am super proud of every one of these young women and what they accomplished. I know each of them will go on to do great things and I wish them well.”
A Career Bookended by Controversy
Zullo’s coaching legacy spans decades, having previously led Shenendehowa High School to a Class A state title in 1987. He had been retired until recently, reportedly returning to the court at the urging of his wife, who passed away last year following a long battle with cancer, Fox News reports.
“She was my dad’s biggest supporter and biggest fan,” said Zullo’s son, Sam Zullo, who also coaches girls basketball in Connecticut. “She was my biggest supporter and biggest fan.”
Despite his decorated history in the sport, Zullo’s return has now ended in controversy.
School Board: “A Personnel Matter”
Board of Education President Carolyn Wilcox confirmed in an email to NBC News that the issue was now being handled internally.
“This is now a personnel matter,” Wilcox said. “We are turning our attention to our young athletes to ensure their wellbeing at this very difficult time.”
This year marked the second consecutive season Northville’s girls team reached the state finals but fell just short, following a 2023 loss to Hammond.
Though the team again came up short on the scoreboard, this time, the spotlight shifted sharply from the court to the sideline — and to a coach whose final moments will likely overshadow his storied past.