A former upstate New York high school women\u2019s basketball player has filed a lawsuit against her former coach and school district after the coach pulled her hair earlier this year, according to the Daily Gazette.<\/p>\n
Hailey Monroe, a senior at Northville High School in Northville, N.Y., at the time of the incident, alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday that fired coach Jim Zullo had \u201ca reputation and history of inappropriate, aggressive and dangerous conduct\u201d toward his players, which the school had been notified about, per the report.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The district) had been made aware of and knew of defendant James Zullo\u2019s propensity to be inappropriately aggressive towards players on the Northville girls\u2019 basketball team, including (Monroe), and had a long history of both physical and psychological abuse of students both in and out of the Northville Central School District,\u201d the lawsuit reads, according to the paper.<\/p>\n
Monroe reportedly is seeking unspecified damages with the lawsuit, claiming she \u201chas been substantially damaged and suffered a monetary loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shocking situation unfolded in March during the NYSPHSAA Class D championship game when Zullo pulled Monroe\u2019s ponytail after a 43-37 loss to La Fargeville and then yelled at her.<\/p>\n
Monroe, the school\u2019s all-time leading scorer, appeared to be crying at the moment, and a teammate stood somewhat between her and Zullo, as seen in the game\u2019s broadcast.<\/p>\n
Zullo continued to yell and point at her before he chided the other player.<\/p>\n
Zullo told news10.com that Monroe cursed at him after he told her to shake hands with the other team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game,\u201d Zullo later said to WNYT. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cI wish I could have those moments back. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached girls\u2019 basketball at Northville the past two years, especially last season, which was a difficult time for our family.\u201d<\/p>\n
A broadcast of the game captured the shocking moment, and the school fired Zullo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Northville Central School District is aware of, and deeply disturbed by, the conduct of the Coach of the Girls\u2019 Varsity basketball team during the Class D New York State championship game. We hold our coaches to the highest standards of professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect for our student-athletes, and this behavior is completely unacceptable,\u201d the school said in a statement, per CBS6.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe District is committed to ensuring that this type of behavior has no place within our programs, and we will continue to uphold the values of respect and integrity that our athletes, families and community expect and deserve. This individual will no longer be coaching for the Northville Central School District.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monroe\u2019s family lodged a complaint with Hudson Valley Community College officials \u2014 the host of the game \u2014 leading to the 81-year-old Zullo being charged with second-degree harassment, per the outlet.<\/p>\n
He reportedly pled guilty last month, resulting in a one-year ban from contact with Monroe and a $120 surcharge. His attorney previously told the paper that Zullo moved to Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was obviously in the wrong at that moment,\u201d attorney Robert Abdella told the Daily Gazette, \u201cbut it should be nothing more than a footnote to what was a great career.\u201d<\/p>\n