High School Basketball Coach Fired After Hair-Pulling Incident Caught on Video

Jim Zullo, 81, was dismissed by the Northville Central School District after pulling a player’s ponytail following a state championship loss.

Jim Zullo, a longtime Northville High School basketball coach, was fired after a video showed him pulling the ponytail of star player Hailey Monroe postgame.
The incident occurred after Northville’s loss in the Class D state championship game, with Monroe visibly upset and crying at the time.
The Northville Central School District condemned Zullo’s actions as 'completely unacceptable' and pledged to support affected players and families.
Prominent figures like Brett Favre and Reggie Miller criticized the coach’s behavior, fueling broader discussions on coaching ethics and boundaries.
Zullo, who had a decorated 40-year coaching career and was inducted into the state’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, defended his actions by claiming Monroe swore at him.