Some moments in sports stick for the wrong reasons. For Hailey Monroe, it was a championship game, a heartbreaking loss, and a basketball coach’s hand pulling her ponytail. That one heated moment, caught on video, has now landed her former coach and school district in court.
The hair-pulling happened in March during the NYSPHSAA Class D championship game. Northville had just lost 43-37 to La Fargeville. On the broadcast, Zullo grabbed Monroe’s ponytail and barked at her. A teammate even stepped between them as Monroe appeared in tears. The video spread quickly, getting quite a lot of attention from everyone.
Monroe, the school’s all-time leading scorer, says the incident caused lasting damage and financial loss. She’s now seeking unspecified damages. “(The district) had been made aware… and had a long history of both physical and psychological abuse,” the lawsuit states.
Zullo admitted the outburst crossed the line. “Under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry,” he told WNYT after the incident. He claimed Monroe cursed at him when he told her to shake hands with the other team.
The school district also spoke up. “We hold our coaches to the highest standards… and this behavior is completely unacceptable,” it said in a statement to CBS6. Officials fired Zullo shortly after the game.
Monroe’s family also reported the matter to Hudson Valley Community College, which hosted the championship. Prosecutors later charged Zullo, 81, with second-degree harassment. He pled guilty last month. The plea deal bans him from contacting Monroe for a year and required him to pay a $120 surcharge. His lawyer called the moment “obviously wrong” but said it shouldn’t overshadow his career.
Zullo has since moved to Florida. Monroe’s legal battle is just beginning. And for a game that should have been about basketball glory, it’s now a cautionary tale of what can happen when sideline emotions go too far.
