Men's Basketball
Cronin, Mick
Mick Cronin
- Title:
- The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Cincinnati, '97
Mick Cronin has served as UCLA’s head coach for the past five seasons (2019-20 through 2023-24), compiling an overall record of 480-224 (.682 percentage) in 21 years as a collegiate head coach. Cronin was named The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach on April 9, 2019.
Through five seasons at UCLA, Cronin has guided the Bruins to a record of 115-53 and a 68-29 mark in conference play (Pac-12). UCLA was one of four programs, along with Arkansas, Gonzaga and Houston, to advance to the Sweet 16 or farther in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023 after reaching the Final Four in 2021. That marked UCLA’s first Final Four appearance since 2008.
Cronin has led the Bruins to a 30-20 record in contests decided by five points or fewer (including all games that advanced to overtime). In addition, he led UCLA to three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (2021, 2022, 2023) for the first time since 2006-08.
Cronin has guided his teams to 14 NCAA Tournament berths in 21 seasons as a college head coach. He steered UCLA’s program to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 (Final Four), 2022 (Sweet 16) and 2023 (Sweet 16) after the 2020 tournament was abruptly canceled. Those three tournament trips with UCLA, combined with nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances through his final nine seasons at Cincinnati, marked an impressive streak of 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances – spanning from 2011 through 2023.
Cronin arrived at UCLA after 13 seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, the University of Cincinnati (2006-19), and three seasons as the head coach at Murray State (2003-06).
Cronin has led his teams to at least 20 victories in 12 of the past 14 seasons (UCLA’s 19-win season in 2019-20 was abruptly abbreviated with the outbreak of COVID-19). Since compiling a 26-9 record at Cincinnati in 2010-11, Cronin has guided his teams to an average of 25.0 victories over the past 14 seasons (2010-11 through 2023-24). He guided Cincinnati to 30 wins in 2016-17 and 31 wins in 2017-18. UCLA’s 2022-23 team finished with 31 wins. His teams have logged a combined 154-51 conference-only record (.751) during his last 11 seasons.
Through the 2023-24 basketball season, Cronin leads all NCAA Division I head coaches (age 53 or younger) in career victories with 480 wins. Over the previous 14 seasons (2010-11 through 2023-24), Cronin has totaled 350 victories. His teams have logged a 350-132 overall record through the previous 14 seasons – his final nine years at Cincinnati and his five seasons at UCLA.
Through the past five years at UCLA, Cronin has seen six of his players secure first-team All-Pac-12 honors – Adem Bona (2024), Tyger Campbell (2021, 2022, 2023), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2022, 2023), Johnny Juzang (2022) and Chris Smith (2020).
In the past three seasons, UCLA has secured six of the 15 spots on the Pac-12 Conference’s All-Defensive Teams. In 2024, Adem Bona was honored as the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year and was recognized on the All-Defensive Team. In 2023, Jaylen Clark and Bona earned All-Defensive Team recognition, while Clark was honored as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 2022, Clark, Jaquez Jr. and Myles Johnson secured All-Defensive Team acclaim.
The Bruins’ program produced four NBA Draft selections in back-to-back drafts in 2022 and 2023, including first-round picks Peyton Watson in 2022 (Denver Nuggets) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. in 2023 (Miami Heat).
During Cronin’s five seasons at UCLA, the Bruins’ program has been among the nation’s leaders in fewest turnovers committed per game. In 2022-23, UCLA ranked No. 15 in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.0). In 2021-22, the Bruins ranked No. 2 in that turnover stat category (8.9) and in 2020-21, the Bruins were No. 13 in the nation in that statistic.
The Bruins went 16-17 in 2023-24, posting a 10-10 mark in the Pac-12 and entering the league tournament as the No. 5 seed. UCLA led the Pac-12 in scoring defense for the third straight year, limiting its opposition to 65.5 points per game (which ranked No. 18, nationally). Bona became UCLA’s second player in as many seasons to earn the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, after Clark had earned that conference honor in 2023.
UCLA’s 2022-23 team went 31-6 and won the Pac-12 regular-season title for the first time since 2013. The Bruins went 18-2 in conference play and won the league’s regular-season title by four games, as Arizona and USC each went 14-6. UCLA was the runner-up to Arizona at the Pac-12 Tournament for the second straight year.
In addition, the Bruins led the Pac-12 in scoring defense for the second consecutive season, having allowed 60.7 points per game in 2022-23 and 64.5 points per game in 2021-22. The Bruins’ 2021-22 team became UCLA’s first to lead the Pac-12 in scoring defense since 1973-74.
For the second consecutive season, UCLA finished second in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (74.1 ppg in 2022-23, and 75.4 ppg in 2021-22). The Bruins were ranked among the top 25 teams in every weekly top-25 poll (AP and Coaches) through the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Under Cronin’s direction, the 2022-23 Bruins limited the opposition to 40.8 percent shooting, the lowest opposing field goal percentage at UCLA since the 1972-73 team held its opponents to 39.6 percent. Likewise, the Bruins held their opponents to 31.1 percent shooting from 3-point distance, the second-lowest opposing percentage (at UCLA) since the introduction of the 3-point arc in 1986-87. UCLA’s 1993-94 team limited its opposition to 28.6 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Jaquez Jr. was honored as the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2023, becoming UCLA’s first such selection since Kevin Love as a freshman in 2008. He was recognized as a consensus second-team All-America selection and earned the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award (by CollegeInsider.com). Clark was honored as the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year, the NABC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Bona was named the 2023 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
In March 2023, Cronin earned the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Award for the second time in four seasons. He earned conference Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in his career. Previously, he had been named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2020. He earned Coach of the Year acclaim while at Cincinnati in 2014 (American Athletic Conference) and at Murray State in 2006 (Ohio Valley Conference). Cronin was also named as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award. He secured NABC District 19 Coach of the Year honors for the second time in four years (2020 and 2023).
The Bruins’ 2021-22 squad went 27-8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. UCLA went 15-5 in league play, finishing in second place in the Pac-12 standings.
In 2020-21, Cronin helped the Bruins compile a 22-10 record and a 13-6 mark in Pac-12 play. The Bruins opened their league schedule with eight consecutive wins, the program’s best such conference start since opening 9-0 in Pac-10 play in 1982-83. UCLA finished in fourth place in the Pac-12 standings behind a trio of NCAA Tournament-bound programs (Oregon, USC and Colorado). The Bruins were one of four Pac-12 programs to move onto the Sweet 16 (along with Oregon, Oregon State and USC).
In his first season at UCLA (2019-20), Cronin guided the Bruins to a 19-12 record and a second-place finish in the Pac-12. UCLA won 11 of its final 14 games, posting a 12-6 mark in Pac-12 action and securing the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament. Cronin became UCLA’s first head coach to win the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Award since 2006 (Ben Howland).
UCLA concluded the 2019-20 season as one of the league’s most successful rebounding teams, having outrebounded its opposition in 24 of 31 games. The Bruins led the Pac-12 in rebounding margin (+5.6 rpg) and offensive rebounds per game (11.9). UCLA ranked in the top 35, nationally, in each of those rebounding categories. Chris Smith was honored as the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player of the Year in 2020, in addition to earning all-league first-team acclaim.
In 2018, Cronin was named Sporting News National Coach of the Year and was also a semifinalist for the 2018 Naismith Trophy National Coach of the Year Award. In 2014, he was honored as the NABC’s District 25 Coach of the Year. He will enter the 2023-24 season as the nation’s leader in NCAA Division I coaching victories (464) among active coaches under the age of 53.
A native of Cincinnati, Cronin helped bring about a rebirth of Cincinnati’s program, built upon toughness, tenacious defense and an all-out effort. His teams at Cincinnati ranked as one of just two in the nation (along with Virginia) to be listed among the nation’s top 25 in scoring defense through his final seven seasons (2013-2019).
Under Cronin’s leadership, Cincinnati secured two American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season titles (2014, 2018) and a pair of second-place finishes in the league’s then six-year history. He also directed the Bearcats to back-to-back AAC Tournament titles (2018, 2019), Cincinnati’s first back-to-back conference tournament titles since 1995 (Great Midwest Conference) and 1996 (Conference USA).
Cronin’s rebuilding job at Cincinnati began immediately when his first squad featured just one returning starter for the 2006-07 campaign. He established the culture necessary to build for long-term success while competing within the powerful 16-team Big East Conference. During the retooling process, Cincinnati became the only program from a major conference to improve its win total every season from 2007 to 2011. His teams built from 11 victories in 2007 to 26 wins and a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2011.
Cronin led Cincinnati’s 2018-19 squad to a 28-7 overall record and the AAC Tournament title. Despite losing AAC Player of the Year Gary Clark (Houston Rockets), Jacob Evans III (Golden State Warriors) and Kyle Washington (NBA G League), the Bearcats proved the naysayers wrong by winning 13 of their final 16 conference games to finish second in the conference’s regular-season standings. Behind Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati’s second AAC Player of the Year recipient in as many years, the Bearcats recorded 11 victories by five points or fewer before securing back-to-back league tournament titles for the first time since 1995 and 1996.
In 2017-18, Cincinnati matched its school record for single-season victories, compiling a 31-5 mark. Cronin helped the Bearcats record back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history (after Cincinnati had gone 30-6 in 2016-17). Cincinnati’s 2017-18 squad secured its first outright regular-season league title since 2002 and its first conference tournament crown since 2004. The Bearcats won 16 straight games, climbing to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll midway through the 2017-18 season.
Cincinnati went 30-6 in 2016-17 and tied the school record for most wins in league play (16-2 record). The Bearcats went 18-0 at home that season, marking the fourth undefeated season at Fifth Third Arena, and were ranked in the national top 25 polls for 15 weeks (the most during the Cronin era at Cincinnati).
Cronin’s 13-year stretch as Cincinnati’s head coach marked his second stint working on the basketball staff at his alma mater. He initially made the jump from high school coaching to the college game during the 1996-97 season, joining Bob Huggins’ coaching staff as the program’s video coordinator. One year later, he was elevated to the role of assistant coach at Cincinnati.
Cronin served as an assistant coach at Cincinnati for four seasons (1997-2001) before working for two seasons at the University of Louisville as associate head coach (2001-03). During two seasons under head coach Rick Pitino at Louisville, Cronin helped the Cardinals to a combined 44-20 record and two postseason appearances (one NCAA Tournament, one NIT berth).
After two seasons at Louisville, Cronin served as Murray State’s head coach for three seasons (2003-06). As head coach at Murray State, he led the Racers to two Ohio Valley Conference tournament titles and one regular-season crown. Cronin captured OVC Coach of the Year acclaim in 2006.
Prior to his time at Murray State, Cronin had developed a strong reputation for his ability to evaluate and recruit top talent. As an assistant coach at Cincinnati with Coach Huggins, he recruited several top players, including NBA Draft selections Steve Logan (Golden State), DerMarr Johnson (Atlanta), Pete Mickeal (Dallas), Kenny Satterfield (Dallas) and Jason Maxiell (Detroit).
A product of La Salle High School (Cincinnati), Cronin saw his playing career end sooner than expected due to a knee injury in high school. As a child growing up on the west side of the city, he used to follow around his father Harold “Hep” Cronin, a highly successful local high school coach with more than 400 career wins, around the gyms of Cincinnati. While completing his undergraduate work at the University of Cincinnati, he served as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at Woodward High School. He helped developed six players who went on to play Division I college basketball, including former Cincinnati standout Damon Flint.
Cronin’s passion for success on the court also carried over to the local community, where he has been committed to making a difference. He served as a board member on both the American Cancer Society in Cincinnati and the ACS’s Coaches vs. Cancer program. He also assisted with a major fundraising event, Soul of the City Soiree, for Our Daily Bread that generated more than $100,000 multiple times, to assist the soup kitchen and community center in Cincinnati.
Cronin, 52, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1997 with his bachelor’s degree in history. He has a 17-year-old daughter, Samantha.
Through five seasons at UCLA, Cronin has guided the Bruins to a record of 115-53 and a 68-29 mark in conference play (Pac-12). UCLA was one of four programs, along with Arkansas, Gonzaga and Houston, to advance to the Sweet 16 or farther in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023 after reaching the Final Four in 2021. That marked UCLA’s first Final Four appearance since 2008.
Cronin has led the Bruins to a 30-20 record in contests decided by five points or fewer (including all games that advanced to overtime). In addition, he led UCLA to three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (2021, 2022, 2023) for the first time since 2006-08.
Cronin has guided his teams to 14 NCAA Tournament berths in 21 seasons as a college head coach. He steered UCLA’s program to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 (Final Four), 2022 (Sweet 16) and 2023 (Sweet 16) after the 2020 tournament was abruptly canceled. Those three tournament trips with UCLA, combined with nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances through his final nine seasons at Cincinnati, marked an impressive streak of 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances – spanning from 2011 through 2023.
Cronin arrived at UCLA after 13 seasons as the head coach at his alma mater, the University of Cincinnati (2006-19), and three seasons as the head coach at Murray State (2003-06).
Cronin has led his teams to at least 20 victories in 12 of the past 14 seasons (UCLA’s 19-win season in 2019-20 was abruptly abbreviated with the outbreak of COVID-19). Since compiling a 26-9 record at Cincinnati in 2010-11, Cronin has guided his teams to an average of 25.0 victories over the past 14 seasons (2010-11 through 2023-24). He guided Cincinnati to 30 wins in 2016-17 and 31 wins in 2017-18. UCLA’s 2022-23 team finished with 31 wins. His teams have logged a combined 154-51 conference-only record (.751) during his last 11 seasons.
Through the 2023-24 basketball season, Cronin leads all NCAA Division I head coaches (age 53 or younger) in career victories with 480 wins. Over the previous 14 seasons (2010-11 through 2023-24), Cronin has totaled 350 victories. His teams have logged a 350-132 overall record through the previous 14 seasons – his final nine years at Cincinnati and his five seasons at UCLA.
Through the past five years at UCLA, Cronin has seen six of his players secure first-team All-Pac-12 honors – Adem Bona (2024), Tyger Campbell (2021, 2022, 2023), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2022, 2023), Johnny Juzang (2022) and Chris Smith (2020).
In the past three seasons, UCLA has secured six of the 15 spots on the Pac-12 Conference’s All-Defensive Teams. In 2024, Adem Bona was honored as the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year and was recognized on the All-Defensive Team. In 2023, Jaylen Clark and Bona earned All-Defensive Team recognition, while Clark was honored as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 2022, Clark, Jaquez Jr. and Myles Johnson secured All-Defensive Team acclaim.
The Bruins’ program produced four NBA Draft selections in back-to-back drafts in 2022 and 2023, including first-round picks Peyton Watson in 2022 (Denver Nuggets) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. in 2023 (Miami Heat).
During Cronin’s five seasons at UCLA, the Bruins’ program has been among the nation’s leaders in fewest turnovers committed per game. In 2022-23, UCLA ranked No. 15 in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.0). In 2021-22, the Bruins ranked No. 2 in that turnover stat category (8.9) and in 2020-21, the Bruins were No. 13 in the nation in that statistic.
The Bruins went 16-17 in 2023-24, posting a 10-10 mark in the Pac-12 and entering the league tournament as the No. 5 seed. UCLA led the Pac-12 in scoring defense for the third straight year, limiting its opposition to 65.5 points per game (which ranked No. 18, nationally). Bona became UCLA’s second player in as many seasons to earn the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, after Clark had earned that conference honor in 2023.
UCLA’s 2022-23 team went 31-6 and won the Pac-12 regular-season title for the first time since 2013. The Bruins went 18-2 in conference play and won the league’s regular-season title by four games, as Arizona and USC each went 14-6. UCLA was the runner-up to Arizona at the Pac-12 Tournament for the second straight year.
In addition, the Bruins led the Pac-12 in scoring defense for the second consecutive season, having allowed 60.7 points per game in 2022-23 and 64.5 points per game in 2021-22. The Bruins’ 2021-22 team became UCLA’s first to lead the Pac-12 in scoring defense since 1973-74.
For the second consecutive season, UCLA finished second in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (74.1 ppg in 2022-23, and 75.4 ppg in 2021-22). The Bruins were ranked among the top 25 teams in every weekly top-25 poll (AP and Coaches) through the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Under Cronin’s direction, the 2022-23 Bruins limited the opposition to 40.8 percent shooting, the lowest opposing field goal percentage at UCLA since the 1972-73 team held its opponents to 39.6 percent. Likewise, the Bruins held their opponents to 31.1 percent shooting from 3-point distance, the second-lowest opposing percentage (at UCLA) since the introduction of the 3-point arc in 1986-87. UCLA’s 1993-94 team limited its opposition to 28.6 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Jaquez Jr. was honored as the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2023, becoming UCLA’s first such selection since Kevin Love as a freshman in 2008. He was recognized as a consensus second-team All-America selection and earned the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award (by CollegeInsider.com). Clark was honored as the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year, the NABC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Bona was named the 2023 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
In March 2023, Cronin earned the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Award for the second time in four seasons. He earned conference Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time in his career. Previously, he had been named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2020. He earned Coach of the Year acclaim while at Cincinnati in 2014 (American Athletic Conference) and at Murray State in 2006 (Ohio Valley Conference). Cronin was also named as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award. He secured NABC District 19 Coach of the Year honors for the second time in four years (2020 and 2023).
The Bruins’ 2021-22 squad went 27-8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. UCLA went 15-5 in league play, finishing in second place in the Pac-12 standings.
In 2020-21, Cronin helped the Bruins compile a 22-10 record and a 13-6 mark in Pac-12 play. The Bruins opened their league schedule with eight consecutive wins, the program’s best such conference start since opening 9-0 in Pac-10 play in 1982-83. UCLA finished in fourth place in the Pac-12 standings behind a trio of NCAA Tournament-bound programs (Oregon, USC and Colorado). The Bruins were one of four Pac-12 programs to move onto the Sweet 16 (along with Oregon, Oregon State and USC).
In his first season at UCLA (2019-20), Cronin guided the Bruins to a 19-12 record and a second-place finish in the Pac-12. UCLA won 11 of its final 14 games, posting a 12-6 mark in Pac-12 action and securing the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament. Cronin became UCLA’s first head coach to win the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Award since 2006 (Ben Howland).
UCLA concluded the 2019-20 season as one of the league’s most successful rebounding teams, having outrebounded its opposition in 24 of 31 games. The Bruins led the Pac-12 in rebounding margin (+5.6 rpg) and offensive rebounds per game (11.9). UCLA ranked in the top 35, nationally, in each of those rebounding categories. Chris Smith was honored as the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player of the Year in 2020, in addition to earning all-league first-team acclaim.
In 2018, Cronin was named Sporting News National Coach of the Year and was also a semifinalist for the 2018 Naismith Trophy National Coach of the Year Award. In 2014, he was honored as the NABC’s District 25 Coach of the Year. He will enter the 2023-24 season as the nation’s leader in NCAA Division I coaching victories (464) among active coaches under the age of 53.
A native of Cincinnati, Cronin helped bring about a rebirth of Cincinnati’s program, built upon toughness, tenacious defense and an all-out effort. His teams at Cincinnati ranked as one of just two in the nation (along with Virginia) to be listed among the nation’s top 25 in scoring defense through his final seven seasons (2013-2019).
Under Cronin’s leadership, Cincinnati secured two American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season titles (2014, 2018) and a pair of second-place finishes in the league’s then six-year history. He also directed the Bearcats to back-to-back AAC Tournament titles (2018, 2019), Cincinnati’s first back-to-back conference tournament titles since 1995 (Great Midwest Conference) and 1996 (Conference USA).
Cronin’s rebuilding job at Cincinnati began immediately when his first squad featured just one returning starter for the 2006-07 campaign. He established the culture necessary to build for long-term success while competing within the powerful 16-team Big East Conference. During the retooling process, Cincinnati became the only program from a major conference to improve its win total every season from 2007 to 2011. His teams built from 11 victories in 2007 to 26 wins and a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2011.
Cronin led Cincinnati’s 2018-19 squad to a 28-7 overall record and the AAC Tournament title. Despite losing AAC Player of the Year Gary Clark (Houston Rockets), Jacob Evans III (Golden State Warriors) and Kyle Washington (NBA G League), the Bearcats proved the naysayers wrong by winning 13 of their final 16 conference games to finish second in the conference’s regular-season standings. Behind Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati’s second AAC Player of the Year recipient in as many years, the Bearcats recorded 11 victories by five points or fewer before securing back-to-back league tournament titles for the first time since 1995 and 1996.
In 2017-18, Cincinnati matched its school record for single-season victories, compiling a 31-5 mark. Cronin helped the Bearcats record back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in program history (after Cincinnati had gone 30-6 in 2016-17). Cincinnati’s 2017-18 squad secured its first outright regular-season league title since 2002 and its first conference tournament crown since 2004. The Bearcats won 16 straight games, climbing to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll midway through the 2017-18 season.
Cincinnati went 30-6 in 2016-17 and tied the school record for most wins in league play (16-2 record). The Bearcats went 18-0 at home that season, marking the fourth undefeated season at Fifth Third Arena, and were ranked in the national top 25 polls for 15 weeks (the most during the Cronin era at Cincinnati).
Cronin’s 13-year stretch as Cincinnati’s head coach marked his second stint working on the basketball staff at his alma mater. He initially made the jump from high school coaching to the college game during the 1996-97 season, joining Bob Huggins’ coaching staff as the program’s video coordinator. One year later, he was elevated to the role of assistant coach at Cincinnati.
Cronin served as an assistant coach at Cincinnati for four seasons (1997-2001) before working for two seasons at the University of Louisville as associate head coach (2001-03). During two seasons under head coach Rick Pitino at Louisville, Cronin helped the Cardinals to a combined 44-20 record and two postseason appearances (one NCAA Tournament, one NIT berth).
After two seasons at Louisville, Cronin served as Murray State’s head coach for three seasons (2003-06). As head coach at Murray State, he led the Racers to two Ohio Valley Conference tournament titles and one regular-season crown. Cronin captured OVC Coach of the Year acclaim in 2006.
Prior to his time at Murray State, Cronin had developed a strong reputation for his ability to evaluate and recruit top talent. As an assistant coach at Cincinnati with Coach Huggins, he recruited several top players, including NBA Draft selections Steve Logan (Golden State), DerMarr Johnson (Atlanta), Pete Mickeal (Dallas), Kenny Satterfield (Dallas) and Jason Maxiell (Detroit).
A product of La Salle High School (Cincinnati), Cronin saw his playing career end sooner than expected due to a knee injury in high school. As a child growing up on the west side of the city, he used to follow around his father Harold “Hep” Cronin, a highly successful local high school coach with more than 400 career wins, around the gyms of Cincinnati. While completing his undergraduate work at the University of Cincinnati, he served as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at Woodward High School. He helped developed six players who went on to play Division I college basketball, including former Cincinnati standout Damon Flint.
Cronin’s passion for success on the court also carried over to the local community, where he has been committed to making a difference. He served as a board member on both the American Cancer Society in Cincinnati and the ACS’s Coaches vs. Cancer program. He also assisted with a major fundraising event, Soul of the City Soiree, for Our Daily Bread that generated more than $100,000 multiple times, to assist the soup kitchen and community center in Cincinnati.
Cronin, 52, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1997 with his bachelor’s degree in history. He has a 17-year-old daughter, Samantha.