Career Timeline of Mick Cronin (basketball): Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Mick Cronin (basketball) made an impact.

Mick Cronin is an American college basketball coach, currently serving as the head coach for UCLA. Known for his emphasis on defense and toughness, Cronin previously coached at Cincinnati, where he led the Bearcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances. Before Cincinnati, he coached at Murray State, leading them to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Cronin is regarded as a strong program builder and recruiter, with a track record of success in developing players and fostering a winning culture. His coaching philosophy prioritizes discipline and hard work.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1991: Varsity Assistant Coach at Woodward High

From 1991 to 1996, Mick Cronin served as a varsity assistant coach and junior varsity coach at Woodward High.

1994: Director of Pittsburgh High School Roundball Classic

In 1994, Mick Cronin was director of the Pittsburgh high school Roundball Classic national all-star game.

1996: Varsity Assistant Coach at Woodward High

From 1991 to 1996, Mick Cronin served as a varsity assistant coach and junior varsity coach at Woodward High.

1996: Video Coordinator at University of Cincinnati

In 1996–97, Mick Cronin took his first college coaching job as a video coordinator under Bob Huggins at the University of Cincinnati.

1996: Coached East Team in Magic Johnson Roundball Classic

In the spring of 1996, Mick Cronin coached the East team in the Magic Johnson Roundball Classic.

1997: Elevated to Assistant Coach

In 1997, Mick Cronin was elevated to assistant coach, a post he held at UC until 2001.

2001: Associate Head Coach at Louisville

Beginning with the 2001–02 season, Mick Cronin became the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville under Rick Pitino.

2001: Assistant Coach Until 2001

From 1997 until 2001, Mick Cronin was an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati.

2003: Coached Murray State Racers

From 2003 to 2006, Mick Cronin coached the Murray State Racers.

2003: Hired at Murray State

In 2003, Mick Cronin's first head coaching job was at Murray State.

2005: Hired as Cincinnati’s Coach

After the 2005–06 season, Mick Cronin was hired as Cincinnati's coach, replacing interim coach Andy Kennedy.

2006: Joined Cincinnati

In 2006, Mick Cronin joined the University of Cincinnati as head coach.

2006: Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year

In 2006, Mick Cronin was named the Ohio Valley Conference coach of the year while at Murray State.

2008: Elite Eight

In 2020-21, Cronin led the Bruins to an overtime victory over No. 2 seeded Alabama, reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in his coaching career (and the first for UCLA since 2008).

2009: Recruited Lance Stephenson

For the 2009–10 season, Mick Cronin successfully recruited Lance Stephenson, who was later named the Big East Rookie of the Year.

2010: Improved School's Win Total

From the beginning of the 2010 season to February 3, 2017, Mick Cronin's teams improved the school's win total each of his first five seasons.

2011: Contract Extension

In 2011, the University of Cincinnati board of trustees approved a contract extension for Mick Cronin through 2017 with an average pay of $1.5 million a year.

2012: Defeated Florida State in NCAA tournament

In 2012, Mick Cronin lead the Bearcats to a win over a higher seed in the NCAA tournament, when 6th-seeded Cincinnati defeated 3rd-seeded Florida State.

2012: First Pac-12 Regular Season Championship

In 2022–23, Mick Cronin's team won their first Pac-12 regular season championship since 2012–13.

2014: Named AAC Coach of the Year

In 2014, Mick Cronin was named the coach of the year of the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

2015: Reached Regional Semifinals

The 2021-22 team was the first time the Bruins had reached the regional semifinals in consecutive seasons since 2015.

2016: Contract Extension

In 2016, the UC board of trustees approved a 2-year extension that would have taken Mick Cronin through the 2022–23 season.

February 3, 2017: Success at Bearcats

From the beginning of the 2010 season to February 3, 2017, the Bearcats had amassed a 166–63 record, spent 45 weeks ranked in the AP Poll, and reached six straight NCAA tournaments, while picking up four tournament wins.

March 2017: Fifth Third Arena Renovation

In March 2017, the University of Cincinnati began an $87 million renovation of Fifth Third Arena.

2017: Lost to UCLA

After Cincinnati lost to UCLA in the 2017 NCAA tournament, they defeated the Bruins in two consecutive regular-season matches by an average of 21.5 points.

2017: Contract Extended Through 2017

In 2011, the University of Cincinnati board of trustees approved a contract extension for Mick Cronin through 2017 with an average pay of $1.5 million a year.

2017: First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2017

In 2020-21, they defeated Michigan State in the First Four for the Bruins' first NCAA tournament win since 2017.

2018: Defeated UCLA

After Cincinnati lost to UCLA in the 2017 NCAA tournament, they defeated the Bruins in two consecutive regular-season matches by an average of 21.5 points. Its 29-point win in 2018–19 was part of a UCLA four-game losing streak which led up to Alford's midseason dismissal.