Mick Cronin accepts offer to become UCLA head coach

Mick Cronin, who has been the head coach at alma mater Cincinnati for the last thirteen seasons, has agreed to become the next head coach of the UCLA Bruins.

“Mick has built a fantastic program at Cincinnati, backed by integrity and discipline, and he has instilled an undeniable toughness in his student-athletes,” AD Dan Guerrero said Tuesday. “I am confident he will build this program the right way and lead UCLA basketball back to national prominence.”

During his time at Cincinnati, Cronin won 296 games (.668 winning percentage) and went to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last nine seasons. While he was able to maintain consistent success at UC, he only reached the Sweet Sixteen once (2012) during all of those appearances and experienced a number of disappointing exits, including a 2nd round loss in 2018 as a 2-seed. Perhaps the expanded resources at UCLA will be the difference in Cronin getting over the hump and finally making a more substantial run in the Tournament.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to become the head coach at UCLA,” Cronin said in the release. “UCLA is a very special place with a strong tradition of excellence. To be able to join such a world-class institution is truly a privilege, and I can’t wait to get started in Westwood.”

For weeks, news has leaked regarding a number of head coaches in connection with the UCLA job. Most recently, a deal with Jamie Dixon fell through (due to his high buyout at TCU) and Rick Barnes turned down an offer after Tennessee stepped up financially. The Bruins have been without a permanent head coach since firing Steve Alford in December and were led in the final 20 games of the season by interim HC Murry Bartow.

credit to Getty Images/UCLA Athletics for the photo