Dan Hurley Reflects on Controversial Comments After UConn’s NCAA Tournament Exit

Dan Hurley Reflects on Controversial Comments After UConn’s NCAA Tournament Exit

March 26, 2025, was a day of reflection for UConn coach Dan Hurley, who found himself in the spotlight for reasons other than his team’s performance on the court. Following the Huskies’ narrow 77-75 loss to the top-seeded Florida Gators in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Hurley made headlines with his candid and profane remarks about the officiating. As the dust settled, Hurley took a moment to express his regrets and share his thoughts on the incident.

In the heat of the moment, as he walked off the floor, Hurley was caught on camera by a media member making a comment to Baylor players, who were preparing for their game. He said, “I hope they don’t f— you like they f—ed us,” a clear reference to the officiating during the game. This outburst was not just a slip of the tongue but a reflection of the intense emotions that come with high-stakes competition.

On Wednesday, Hurley addressed the situation, acknowledging that his comments were made in a moment of frustration. “Those are three great officials on that game, so, although I said something in the heat of the moment, in an area of the arena that in pretty much every game I’ve ever coached in college has been media-free,” Hurley told reporters. “Past the tunnel, by the locker rooms, in the hallway where the coaches go, that’s for the combatants, that’s for the competitors. That’s not for camera phones. Just relative to that, those were three great refs and Florida earned it.”

Hurley went on to reflect on the emotional nature of the moment, saying, “If I don’t go off the rails at the end there, after that three-year run ended in excruciating fashion. … If I don’t have that emotional outburst there, probably all people are talking about is the run we’ve had, the amazing players.”

The incident was further complicated when Queen City News’ Joey Ellis posted a video of Hurley’s comments. According to Charlotte Sports Live, UConn’s director of men’s basketball communications, Bobby Mullen, asked Ellis to remove the video and allegedly made a threatening comment. Ellis later shared on social media that Mullen apologized for his actions.

Hurley took responsibility for the situation, stating, “Bobby regrets, just like I regret the moments I’ve had. Obviously it’s all my fault that Bobby got pulled into it. I set the whole thing in motion and I feel horrible. Obviously he could’ve handled dealing with the media person with the phone that took the video (differently), he could’ve obviously let it go. He should’ve been better trained for a situation like this, we’ve been in them all year.”

He continued, “But Bobby’s a soldier. We all fight like that for each other in our program, and sometimes we go a little too far. But Bobby’s a great guy.”

This incident was not an isolated one for Hurley, who has had a number of other heated moments throughout the season. From heated complaints with officials at the Maui Classic to taunting a fan after a victory at Creighton, Hurley’s fiery demeanor has been a consistent part of his coaching style.

Reflecting on his coaching approach, Hurley said, “This is what UConn knew they were getting, this is how I’ve coached obviously my entire career — and I’m not bragging about that, I’m just surprised that people just discovered it if they’re college basketball experts. It’s one of those things where, they’re mistakes, there are things I wish I didn’t do, it’s part of what you get with me. I hope to not do it again. I’m going to attempt to take measures both internally, mentally, and externally. … I wouldn’t change one aspect of how I coach a game or how hard we fight. (But) I’d like to get on and off the court without incident.”

• UConn’s bid for a third straight national title ended with a 77-75 defeat to the top-seeded Gators.
• Hurley’s comments were caught on camera by a media member.
• UConn’s director of men’s basketball communications, Bobby Mullen, was involved in the aftermath.
• Hurley has had other incidents throughout the season.

As the season comes to a close, Hurley’s reflections serve as a reminder of the intense emotions and pressures that come with coaching at the highest level. While he may have regrets about his comments, his passion for the game and his team remains unwavering.