The longtime upstate New York highschool women’ basketball coach, Jim Zullo, has spoken out following his firing for yanking his participant’s hair.
Zullo’s son, Sam, shared his father’s assertion to information shops, together with WNYT.
“I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game,” Zullo mentioned. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the good folks at Northville Central Schools and our community. As a coach, under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry.”
Northville Excessive College fell 43-37 towards La Fargeville on Friday within the title recreation.
“I wish I could have those moments back. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached girls basketball at Northville the past two years, especially last season, which was a difficult time for our family,” Zullo mentioned.
Within the viral clip that led to his termination, Zullo, 81, walked up behind Hailey Monroe and tugged on her ponytail earlier than then yelling in her face.
Monroe’s teammate stood up for her and fired again at Zullo throughout the altercation.
Monroe appeared to be crying each earlier than and after the incident, which got here as they have been watching their opponents have fun its New York State Championship. Monroe is a senior and this system’s all-time main scorer however had fouled out within the recreation.
Zullo claimed Monroe directed an expletive towards him which led to the viral incident.
The Northville Central College District promptly fired Zullo and mentioned, “The district will be following up with the affected players and their families to provide support and outline the actions we are taking in response to this incident.”
“I am super proud of every one of these young women and what they accomplished,” Zullo mentioned. “I know each of them will go on to do great things and I wish them well.”
