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As the Northville High School girls’ basketball team stood on the court during the medal ceremony, the weight of their Class D state final loss to La Fargeville became undeniable.
The championship dream that had driven them all season was slipping away, and emotions ran high at Hudson Valley Community College on March 21.
Senior player Hailey Monroe, in particular, struggled to hold back her disappointment as the team lined up to receive their medals.
What happened next, however, caught everyone off guard—even those watching the broadcast.
At 81 years old, head coach Zullo shocked his team by unexpectedly tugging on senior player Monroe’s ponytail.
The unexpected gesture left Monroe momentarily stunned as she tried to process what had just happened.
The brief interaction between Zullo and Monroe quickly escalated into a major controversy as the recorded video spread online.
Teammate Ahmya Tompkins, visibly outraged, immediately stepped in upon witnessing the coach’s actions toward Monroe.
While the footage appeared silent and fleeting, many are eager to uncover what was actually said during the tense exchange.
The mystery surrounding the exchange was soon unraveled.
Professional lip reader Nicola Hickling analyzed the footage to decode the brief yet intense interaction that had captured widespread attention.
As Tompkins intervened, she firmly told the coach, “That’s not okay,” prompting him to back off momentarily.
However, Zullo allegedly continued to berate Monroe, leading Tompkins to assert herself again: “No, leave her.”
According to Hickling, Zullo then turned his frustration toward Tompkins, snapping, “You shut it.”
As the lip reader’s findings spread, more people voiced their outrage, joining the growing calls for action.
Public demands for Zullo’s removal surged across social media, with widespread criticism from various communities.
In response, the Northville Central School District swiftly issued an official statement, expressing that they were “deeply disturbed” by the coach’s behavior. They reaffirmed their commitment to upholding integrity, sportsmanship, and respect within school athletics.
Authorities took decisive action, ensuring that Zullo was permanently removed from his coaching position.
Zullo, who initially retired in 1987, made a comeback at 65 to coach Northville’s girls’ basketball team, having previously led Shenendehowa to a state championship in 2006.
Despite guiding Northville to two championship appearances, his long coaching career was overshadowed by this controversy.
Following his official dismissal, Zullo acknowledged his misconduct and issued a formal apology.
“I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game,” he stated.
“I want to extend my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the Northville Central Schools community, and everyone affected,” Zullo stated.
He acknowledged that physical contact with players is unacceptable and expressed deep regret for his actions. “I take full responsibility and sincerely regret what happened,” he added.
Despite the controversy, he praised his team’s dedication and resilience.
“I am incredibly proud of every young woman on this team. Their hard work and achievements speak for themselves, and I have no doubt they will go on to accomplish great things.”
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