NORTHVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A coach who was fired within hours of pulling a player's ponytail after a loss in a New York girls basketball state championship game issued an apology Sunday, saying his actions were unacceptable.
Jim Zullo, formerly the coach of the girls team at Northville Central, was dismissed by the school in the Adirondacks after video footage showed him pulling the hair of player Hailey Monroe moments after their team lost the Class D state final to La Fargeville, 43-37 on Friday night.
“I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game," Zullo said in the statement, which was first obtained by Albany-area television station WNYT.