Basketball Coach Sacked For Pulling Player's Hair Has One Wish

Jim Zullo, the former Northville High School girls' basketball coach who became the center of attention for the wrong reasons after yanking a player's hair, has spoken out for the first time since the incident. Zullo apologized to Monroe, her family, and the team, saying, "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. " He said, "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." Zullo concluded, "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." After the game, a visibly upset Monroe, who had fouled out of the game and saddened to have lost in the title game for the second straight year, was with her teammates as they watched their opponents' victorious celebrations. A terrified Monroe walked away from her enraged coach while one of her teammates, who has been identified as Ahmya Tompkins, one of Zullo's nieces, stepped in between Monroe and Zullo to break things off. Another person added, "No matter the outcome, she DID NOT DESERVE THAT!! No one does! He crossed a huge line, and if I was the parents, I'd go completely unhinged!!" Another person added, "First, the school should fire him. Second, local police should arrest him either for Endangering or harassment. He is done no matter what."