FIRST ON 13: Former Northville girls basketball coach speaks out after Friday night’s incident

Former Northville High School girls’ basketball coach Jim Zullo has released the following statement, speaking out for the first time since yanking the hair of Hailey Monroe at Friday night’s Class D State Championship game:

“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. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached girls basketball at Northville the past two years, especially last season, which was a difficult time for our family. I am super proud of every one of these young women and what they accomplished.  I know each of them will go on to do great things and I wish them well.”

The incident happened when the Falcons players were watching their opponent, La Fargeville, celebrate the championship victory at Hudson Valley Community College.

Monroe is visibly upset by the loss for a second straight year in the title game and that’s when Zullo yanks on her hair and then verbally confronts her. A player steps in to break things up and as Zullo is having words with her, the NFHS cameras cut away to show the La Fargeville celebration.

The player who stepped in between the altercation with Zullo and Monroe is Ahmya Tompkins, one of Zullo’s nieces.

Northville lost Friday night’s Class D title, 43-37.

In addition, the Northville Central School District released a statement regarding the incident.