Jim Zullo, the coach of Northville Central's girls basketball team, was dismissed after pulling the ponytail of player Hailey Monroe during the postgame ceremony following their state championship loss. His actions, captured on video, led to widespread condemnation. In a heartfelt apology, Zullo expressed regret and acknowledged the inappropriateness of his behavior, emphasizing that coaches should never physically harm players. He reflected on the emotional challenges he faced while coaching, especially after losing his wife earlier that season, and expressed pride in the girls he coached.
I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game. I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the good folks at Northville Central Schools and our community.
As a coach, under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry. I wish I could have those moments back.
Collection
[
|
...
]