History of Mick Cronin (basketball) in Timeline

Mick Cronin is a prominent American college basketball coach, currently serving as the head coach at UCLA. Known for his emphasis on defense and toughness, Cronin previously achieved considerable success at the University of Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. His coaching career is marked by a commitment to player development and a disciplined approach to the game, making him a respected figure in college basketball.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

July 17, 1971: Michael Walter Cronin Born

On July 17, 1971, Michael Walter Cronin was born. He is now a prominent American college basketball coach, currently serving as the head coach at UCLA.

1976: Sought to Become First Undefeated National Champion Since 1976

In 2021 UCLA faced Gonzaga, who was seeking to become the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976.

1985: UCLA was a 14-point underdog

In 2021, UCLA was a 14-point underdog, the largest Final Four point spread since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

1988: Brother Drafted by Atlanta Braves

In 1988, Mick Cronin's brother, Dan, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves.

1989: All-City Honors at La Salle High School

In 1989, Mick Cronin, playing point guard, earned all-city honors in basketball at LaSalle High School.

1991: Varsity Assistant Coach

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

1994: Director of Pittsburgh Roundball Classic

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

1996: Varsity Assistant Coach

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

1996: Received Bachelor of Arts Degree

In 1996, Mick Cronin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Cincinnati.

1996: Video Coordinator at the University of Cincinnati

In 1996, 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 at UC

In 1997, Mick Cronin was elevated to assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati, a post he held 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 at UC until 2001

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

2003: Coached Murray State Racers

In 2003, 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 after the dismissal of Bob Huggins.

2005: Mother Died of Cancer

In 2005, Mick Cronin's mother, Peggy, died of cancer.

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.

2008: First Final Four Since 2008

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, the all-time leading scorer in New York state high school basketball history.

2009: Divorced From Darlene Taylor

In 2009, Mick Cronin divorced from Darlene Taylor.

2010: Improved School's Win Total

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.

2011: Contract Extension with Cincinnati

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

2012: Won First Pac-12 Regular Season Championship

In 2022-23, Mick Cronin won their first Pac-12 regular season championship since 2012–13. He was again voted the Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

December 22, 2014: Diagnosed with Unruptured Aneurysm

On December 22, 2014, during the 2014–2015 season, Mick Cronin, 43, was diagnosed with an unruptured aneurysm.

2014: Named AAC Coach of the Year

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

2014: Missed Portion of Season Due to Illness

Mick Cronin missed a portion of the 2014–15 season due to an illness, having only coached for the first nine games.

January 2, 2015: To not coach for the season

On January 2, 2015, it was announced that Mick Cronin would not coach the remainder of the season.

March 30, 2015: Cleared to Return to Coaching Duties

On March 30, 2015, Mick Cronin announced he had a clean bill of health and was cleared to return to full-time coaching duties following his diagnosis of an arterial dissection.

2015: Reached Sweet Sixteen

Mick Cronin led the 2021–22 team to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA tournament, the first time the Bruins had reached the regional semifinals in consecutive seasons since 2015.

2016: Approved 2-year 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: 166-63 record

March 2017: Renovation of Fifth Third Arena Began

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

2017: Cincinnati 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 Extension with Cincinnati

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: NCAA Tournament Win

In 2021, they defeated Michigan State in the First Four for the Bruins' first NCAA tournament win since 2017.

2018: Defeated the Bruins

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.

2018: Ninth Straight NCAA Tournament Appearance

In the 2018-19 season, Cincinnati appeared in its ninth straight NCAA tournament under Mick Cronin, but was eliminated in the first round by Iowa.

2018: Renovation of Fifth Third Arena Completed

In the fall of 2018, the University of Cincinnati completed the $87 million renovation of Fifth Third Arena.

April 9, 2019: Named Head Coach of UCLA Bruins

On April 9, 2019, Mick Cronin was named the fourteenth head coach of the UCLA Bruins, replacing Steve Alford.

2019: NCAA Tournament Appearance

Through the 2018-2019 season, Mick Cronin guided the Bearcats' program to nine straight NCAA tournament appearances.

2020: Finished Regular Season

In 2020–21, UCLA finished their regular season with a 17–8 record, 13–6 in the Pac-12.

2020: Named Pac-12 Coach of the Year

In the 2019-2020 season, Mick Cronin was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in his first season with the Bruins.

2021: Reached Sweet Sixteen

Mick Cronin led the 2021–22 team to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA tournament, the first time the Bruins had reached the regional semifinals in consecutive seasons since 2015.