A high school basketball coach in Northville Central School District in Fulton County, New York has been fired after a postgame incident during a state championship game on Friday. The coach, identified as Jim Zullo, was caught on camera pulling a player’s ponytail, prompting outrage on social media.
In response to the incident, the school district released a statement expressing deep concern over the coach’s behavior. They emphasized their commitment to professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect for student-athletes, stating that such behavior is unacceptable within their programs. The coach will no longer be coaching for the district.
The video of the incident shows the coach pulling the player’s ponytail, leading to a confrontation with another player who defended her teammate. Zullo claimed that the player had directed an expletive at him after he instructed her to shake hands with the opposing team.
The district stated that they are taking the matter extremely seriously and will be providing support to the affected players and their families. They are also outlining the actions being taken in response to the incident.
