Investigation underway into hair-pulling incident at basketball championship

CAPITAL REGION, NY (WRGB) — An investigation is underway after a viral video captured Northville High School girls basketball coach Jim Zullo yanking the ponytail of the team's all-time leading scorer, Hailey Monroe, following a championship game loss. The incident, which has garnered national attention, led to Zullo's dismissal.

The video shows Monroe visibly upset on the sidelines after Friday's state championship defeat. The 81-year-old Hall of Fame coach approaches and pulls her hair, prompting fellow senior Ahmya Tompkins to intervene in defense of her teammate.

The Hudson Valley Community College Department of Public Safety announced Saturday that it is investigating the incident "in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies." Meanwhile, the Troy Police Department confirmed that no reports or charges have been filed as of Saturday.

The Northville Central School District released a statement on Friday, declaring Zullo's behavior "completely unacceptable" and confirming his termination.

Zullo, who began his coaching career in the 1970s, was inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He came out of retirement in 2023 to coach Northville, leading the team to the state championship in 2024, where they ultimately fell short.

Prior to the incident, Zullo expressed pride in his team's efforts, saying, "It’s great, we worked hard, we worked all summer, fall and spring for this. The kids really worked hard, they deserve to be here."

Monroe also shared her determination:

"We’re a team that doesn’t want to lose. If you don’t want to lose, you out-effort and out hustle the other team, and you won’t lose. It’s something I've wanted since I started playing high school basketball."

Attempts to reach Monroe, Tompkins, and Zullo for further comment were unsuccessful. The New York State Public High-School Association declined to comment on "matters within a member school district." The story is ongoing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.