Featured Image Credit: NFHS/CBS
Topics: News, US News, World News, Sport
Rhianna Benson
A keen-eyed human behaviour expert has this week analysed the viral footage of a high school basketball coach yelling at one of his female players, before proceeding to pull violently on her ponytail.
Viewers were horrified to see 81-year-old Jim Zullo yell and proceed to pull the ponytail of Northville High School senior Hailey Monroe during her team's Class D state championship game against La Fargeville over the weekend.
After Monroe, the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer, and her team suffered a mere 43-37 loss, long-term staff member Zullo could be seen on video striding up to her and bellowing in her face.
The New York coach then reached out and pulled down hard on the teary-eyed student's hair. One of Monroe's teammates immediately fired back at Zullo, shouting back at their coach in the jaw-dropping clip.
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Northville Central School promptly fired the sportsman, as per CBS - despite him later claiming that the act of aggression had been motivated by an expletive that Monroe had supposedly directed towards him in the moment prior.
Lip reading expert Nicola Hickling has since assessed the viral footage, and claims to have determined what Zullo yelled at Monroe in the shocking moment.
While it remains unclear how the coach began his outburst, Hickling told the Mail that Monroe's teammate, reportedly Ahmya Tompkins, who also happens to be Zullo's niece, said: "Leave her. That's not okay."
As the coach continues to berate the pair, Tompkins reportedly reiterates: "No, leave her."
Hickling believes Zullo then snaps back again, spitting, 'You shut it', in their faces.
In a surprising update on Tuesday (24 Mar), the controversial coach's family responded to the global backlash.
A statement released by Zullo's son to several publications (including WNYT) on his behalf reads: "I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game.
"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."
Zullo went on, confessing in his official statement: "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."
Northville High School has since revealed a statement to press, reading: "The Northville Central School District is aware of, and deeply disturbed by, the conduct of the Coach of the Girls’ 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.
"The 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."
The school's statement continued: "The district will be following up with the affected players and their families to provide support and outline the actions we are taking in response to this incident."