The video of Jim Zullo, coach of the Northville, NY team pulling Hailey Monroe’s hair has gone viral
Know all details about Jim Zullo, who is involved in a controversy after pulling his player’s hair which saw his lose his job.
Northville High School coach Zullo, 81, pulled the ponytail of an emotional player as the team was about to lose the Class D New York state title game.
Who is Jim Zullo as video of Northville High School, NY women’s basketball team coach pulling player Hailey Monroe’s ponytail goes viral
A high school girls’ basketball coach in New York’s Adirondacks was dismissed after pulling a player’s ponytail following a state championship game. Footage shared on social media shows the coach of the Northville High School women’s basketball team reprimanding the visibly upset player, Hailey Monroe while another teammate attempts to intervene. The incident took place after Northville Central School District’s varsity team lost to LaFargeville in the Class D New York State championship game.
Why Jim Zullo was suspended?
Veteran basketball coach Jim Zullo was dismissed from his position at Northville Central School District in New York following an incident in which he was seen pulling a player’s hair. The altercation, which took place after Northville’s 43-37 defeat in the New York Class D Championship, was captured on video and quickly went viral. Reports indicate that the incident stemmed from high school senior Hailey Monroe allegedly using inappropriate language towards Jim as claimed by him when asked to shake hands with the opposing team.
Northville High School fired girl's basketball coach Jim Zullo for yanking a player's ponytail after a loss.
How would you respond if this happened to your daughter?pic.twitter.com/CYs4IZKiL8
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) March 22, 2025
At 81 years old, Jim Zullo is a highly experienced coach whose career in New York high school basketball spans over four decades. Over the years, he accumulated more than 500 victories while coaching boys’ teams at Little Falls, Shenendehowa, Broadalbin-Perth, and Indian Lake, earning him a place in the state Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. Although he initially retired in 1999 after a 34-year career, he returned to coaching in 2023 to lead the Northville High School girls’ basketball team.
Under his guidance, the team reached the state championship game in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In response to the controversy, the Northville Central School District strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing that such behavior was entirely unacceptable. A statement released by the district confirmed that Zullo would no longer serve as a coach for Northville Central School. Additionally, the administration assured that necessary steps were being taken to support the affected players and their families.
Zullo has been part of New York High School basketball for more than four decades, amassing 500-plus wins during his career and he retired in 1999 only to come back to coach in 2023, when he began at Northville High School girls’ basketball team.
A 2006 inductee in the state Basketball Hall of Fame, Zullo led the Falcons to the state championship game in his last two years.
::: HIGH SCHOOL COACH FIRED :::
Coach Jim Zullo was FIRED after being caught on camera pulling the hair of a player.
The incident happened after his team lost the New York Class D state championship game.
And watch that amazing young woman stand up for her friend! pic.twitter.com/OAEsKFt6s0
— Robbie Harvey (@therobbieharvey) March 22, 2025