UConn Tries to Bully Reporter into Deleting Viral Dan Hurley Video

The UConn Huskies’ 13-game NCAA Tournament win streak ended on Sunday with a whimper. As has been the case many times throughout the Dan Hurley era, the head coach’s postgame antics stole some of the spotlight from his team.

No. 8 UConn had top-seed Florida on the ropes for most of the matchup in Raleigh. The Huskies had a three-point lead with four minutes to play. That’s right around when Walter Clayton Jr. took over. The Florida guard had a five-point flurry that gave the Gators the lead for good, ultimately securing a 77-75 second round NCAA Tournament victory.

The Huskies left the floor disappointed. Hurley could not contain his emotions. Instead of barking at the crowd, he barked at the Baylor team that was preparing to take the court against Duke.

“I hope they don’t f$&@ you like they F’ed us, Baylor. I really hope they don’t.” Danny Hurley to Baylor walking off the floor after a slug fest loss to top-seed Florida. Likely talking about officiating, if I had to guess #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/zKKsdfsjBt

— Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016) March 23, 2025

UConn made only two shots over an 8-minute stretch. Hurley would rather blame the refs than admit his offense fell short against one of the best teams in college basketball. That’s just the beginning of this story.

The footage of Hurley’s outburst in the tunnel was captured by Joey Ellis, a local TV sports reporter in Raleigh. After his footage went viral, UConn director of communications Bobby Mullens asked Ellis to delete the video. “Asked” is saying it nicely. Charlotte Sports Live stood by its reporter when Mullens said he would “ruin his life” if Ellis didn’t delete the video.

After posting the clip of Dan Hurley leaving the floor post game in Raleigh, here’s an update with our latest reporting late Sunday night. @CSLonQCN pic.twitter.com/pOOvoIINhR

— Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016) March 24, 2025

Mullens defended his decision to try to strong-arm the reporter with the following statement: “The lasting image of Coach Hurley leaving the court should’ve been his walking off the court arm-in-arm with his seniors, overwhelmed with emotion. Instead, a reporter, who was in an area he should not have been, recorded on his cell phone a private comment made to members of another coaching staff.”

One thing no one can debate: Hurley was overwhelmed with emotion, just the wrong kind. In the wake of Coach K’s absence, Dan Hurley and the UConn basketball program are stepping seamlessly into the role as college basketball’s No. 1 villains.

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