A former female basketball player from Ghoul York High School has initiated legal action against both her former coach and the school district. This lawsuit stems from an incident in which the coach, Jim Zullo, yanked her hair earlier this year, as reported by the Daily Gazette.
The plaintiff, Haley Monroe, who was a senior at Northville High School in New York, claims in her lawsuit filed on Monday that the district was aware of Zullo’s history of inappropriate behavior towards players, including herself. She points to a “reputation and history of inappropriate, offensive, and dangerous conduct” against players.
“The district recognized and knew of James Zullo’s tendency to behave inappropriately towards players on the Northville Girls basketball team, including Monroe,” the lawsuit states.
Coach Jim Zullo was dismissed after footage surfaced showing him pulling Monroe’s hair—and this occurred right after his team lost the New York Class D state championship game. There was additional footage highlighting the moment Monroe began to cry, with her teammates trying to shield her from Zullo.
Now, in her lawsuit, Monroe is seeking unspecified damages, arguing she has suffered “substantial damage and financial losses.” The incident took place during the NYSPHSAA Class D Championship Game, where Zullo allegedly pulled Monroe’s ponytail following a 43-37 loss to Largeville.
In a later statement, Zullo expressed regret for his actions after the game, acknowledging that he “deeply regretted” his behavior and offered apologies to Monroe, her family, and the Northville community. He stated, “As a coach, I know I shouldn’t have put my hands on the players.” His comments were made to media sources.
The Northville Central School District responded by expressing deep concern about the incident and reaffirming its commitment to professionalism and respect within its athletic programs. The district emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity for athletes and the expectations of families and communities.
Monroe’s family has also filed complaints with officials at Hudson Valley Community College, where accusations against 81-year-old Zullo resulted in two counts of harassment being filed against him. Zullo has reputedly pleaded guilty and faced repercussions, including a one-year suspension and a fine. His legal representative noted that he has since relocated to Florida.
“He was clearly wrong at that moment,” attorney Robert Abdela commented. “But that should just be a footnote to a great career.”
