Jim Zullo is a big name in New York high school basketball. He’s a member of the state’s Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1987, he served as head coach when Shenendehowa High School won the state championship. Before she died of cancer, his late wife, Linda Zullo, encouraged Jim to come out of retirement and coach the girl’s basketball team at Northville High School.
Family said she believed it would help him keep busy. But Jim’s involvement in this passion project turned problematic recently when he was seen putting his hands on one of his young players.
Zullo zeroed in on Hailey Monroe, a senior on the team.
The Northville girls’ team suffered a tough loss March 21, 2025, against La Fargeville, 43-37, in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D final, NBC News reported. Hailey Monroe, a senior on the team, scored 12 points during the game played at Hudson Valley Community College. She stood on the sidelines with her teammates shedding tears as the season came to an end.
During this emotional moment, cameras captured Zullo walking up behind Monroe and pulling her ponytail. Afterward, he appeared to yell at Monroe before another teammate, Ahmya Tompkins, stepped in.
According to The Daily Gazette of Schenectady, Tompkins is Zullo’s great-niece. As Zullo came from behind the team, he stood in front of Monroe – the school’s leading scorer for both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams – appearing to yell at her while yanking her hair. She steps to the other side of Tompkins, who appears to reprimand Zullo. He follows Monroe. Tompkins shields her. Zullo sticks his finger in her face and returns the gesture.
Sources close to the team told the Gazette that Zullo’s behavior, caught on video, is representative of what’s been an ongoing issue with him this season.
The district is providing support for the players.
As a result, the Northville Central School District has fired Zullo. They shared the decision on Facebook a day after the incident took place, writing, “The District is committed to ensuring that this type of behavior has no place within our programs, and we will continue to uphold the values of respect and integrity that our athletes, families and community expect and deserve. This individual will no longer be coaching for the Northville Central School District.”
It also assured the community that the district would be providing support for the affected players.
Zullo has also released a statement since the incident, apologizing for his actions. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the good folks at Northville Central Schools and our community,” he said in a statement obtained by WNYT. “As a coach, under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry.” He concluded his statement with well-wishes for the entire team in future endeavors.
Zullo has been cited for harassment.
But the incident might not be resolved with Zullo’s dismissal and an apology. According to WNYT, Zullo has been cited for harassment. Hudson Valley’s department of Safety issued a statement claiming that someone filed a complaint against him on Sunday.
He met with peace officers from the college on Monday. They issued him an appearance ticket for second-degree harassment, the news outlet reported. He is scheduled to appear in Troy City Court at a later date.
