TicketsMick Cronin’s tenure as head basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati has seen the rebirth of the Bearcats, rising from a program that featured only one returning scholarship player when he arrived in 2006-07 to one that recorded the first back-to-back 30-win seasons in school history (2016-17 and 2017-18); registered the most wins over a three-year period (89 from 2016-17 through 2018-19) in school history; won the 2018 American Athletic Conference regular-season and back-to-back AAC Tournament championships (2018 & 2019) and has qualified for each of the last nine NCAA Tournaments.
Cronin is one of six coaches in the nation to take his team to the NCAA Tournament each of the past nine seasons, along with Mark Few (Gonzaga), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Bill Self (Kansas) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).
Cronin was named the 2018 Sporting News Coach of the Year and a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy National Coach of the Year Award.
The Cincinnati native and UC alumnus leads the nation in Division I wins (365) and total NCAA Tournament appearances (11) among all active coaches under the age of 50.
Built on toughness, tenacious defense and continuous all-out effort, Cronin’s Bearcats rank as one of two programs (along with Virginia) to be listed among the nation’s top 25 in scoring defense each of the past seven seasons.
Cronin has guided Cincinnati to two AAC regular season titles (2013-14 and 2017-18) and a pair of second-place finishes in the six-year history of the league and directed the Bearcats to back-to-back AAC Tournament titles (2018 and 2019) - UC’s first back-to-back conference tournament title since 1995 (Great Midwest Conference) and 1996 (Conference USA).
At Murray State from 2004-2006, Cronin guided the Racers to two Ohio Valley Conference tournament titles and one regular-season crown while receiving OVC Coach of the Year distinction in 2006.
Along with his three seasons in Murray, Cronin has compiled a 365-171 career record in 15 years as a college head coach, including a 296-147 mark at Cincinnati.
Cronin’s rebuilding job at Cincinnati began immediately when his first squad featured only one returning scholarship player for the 2006-07 campaign. He tirelessly went to work setting the culture necessary to building long-term success while competing within arguably the sport’s toughest league – the old BIG EAST Conference.
Despite the surroundings, Cincinnati began the retooling process, becoming the only program from a major conference to improve its win total every season from 2007 to 2011, building from 11 wins in 2007 to 26 victories and a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2011.
Now a fixture at the Big Dance, Cincinnati can include itself among an elite list of six programs appearing in nine consecutive NCAA Tournaments, along with Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State and North Carolina.
// NINE CONSECUTIVE TRIPS TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
2018-19: Despite losing AAC Player of the Year Gary Clark (Houston Rockets), Jacob Evans III (Golden State Warriors) and Kyle Washington (NBA G League), Cincinnati proved the naysayers wrong, winning 13 of its last 16 conference games to finish second in the league during the regular season. Behind Jarron Cumberland, UC’s second AAC Player of the Year recipient in as many years, the Bearcats found ways to win, clawing out 11 victories by five points or less before claiming back-to-back league tournament titles for the first time since 1995 & 1996 with a win over No. 11 Houston. The Bearcats ended the year 28-7 overall, taking second place in the league at 14-4.
2017-18: Cincinnati matched the school record for wins while posting a 31-5 overall record, marking the first time in program history the Bearcats posted 30 or more wins in back-to-back seasons. The Bearcats won their first outright regular-season league title since 2002 and their first conference tournament title since 2004. UC won 16 consecutive games and climbed to No. 5 in Associated Press poll while making its eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Gary Clark won Associated Press honorable mention honors along with the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, American Championship Most Valuable Player and Sportsmanship awards. Clark and Jacob Evans III were tabbed AAC first team selections while Kyle Washington received honorable mention all-league accolades.
2016-17: Cincinnati achieved a 30-6 overall record, marking the second time in program history the Bearcats posted 30 wins in a season. UC advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and tied the school record for league victories (16-2) while finishing second in the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats also posted an 18-0 home record, the fourth undefeated season at Fifth Third Arena and were ranked in the national polls for 15 weeks during the season, a Cronin-era record high. The UC head coach also achieved a personal milestone, registering his 300th career victory against Tulsa on Feb. 18.
2015-16: Cincinnati won 11 of its final 15 games of the regular season, including a 61-54 win over then-No. 24 SMU, to register its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Junior Troy Caupain received first team all-conference accolades while sophomore Gary Clark was named the league’s defensive player of the year and second-team all-conference honoree. The Bearcats finished 22-11 overall and tied for third in the league with a 12-6 mark.
2014-15: A young, inexperienced group of newcomers and role players overcame the loss of its head coach due to health reasons and banded together to register a 23-11 mark and achieve the program’s first second-round NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012. UC finished third in the conference but swept league-winner SMU and registered a victory at second-place Tulsa (in the only meeting between the schools) to secure the school’s fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament invite. The Bearcats outlasted Purdue 66-65 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to previously unbeaten Kentucky, 64-51.
2013-14: Cincinnati won a share of the inaugural American Athletic Conference regular-season crown, the program’s first conference title since 2003-04, behind the efforts of AP All-American Sean Kilpatrick and league defensive player of the year Justin Jackson. Kilpatrick led The American with 20.6 points per game and Cronin was named The American’s Coach of the Year in leading UC to a 27-7 record – its most wins since 2001-02. The Bearcats strung together 15 consecutive wins, including their first 11 league games. UC was listed among the top 15 teams in the AP poll during each of the last eight weeks of the regular season, climbing as high as seventh.
2012-13: Senior Cashmere Wright fought through nagging injuries and, along with fellow senior JaQuon Parker and junior Sean Kilpatrick, helped lead the Bearcats to a 22-12 overall record and third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Wright finished his career as UC’s all-time steals leader (198) and Cronin claimed his 200th career coaching win. The Bearcats ranked sixth nationally with 6.1 blocks per game.
2011-12: Cincinnati advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, registered 26 wins for the second consecutive season and defeated a school-record eight nationally ranked teams, including No. 2 Syracuse in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship. The Bearcats posted a school-record 12 wins in the BIG EAST en route to tying for fourth place in the league standings and finishing as runners up in the league tournament. Yancy Gates capped off his career as one of only six players in program history to compile more than 1,400 points and 900 rebounds. The Bearcats outlasted Texas and Florida State before falling to Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals.
2010-11: Cincinnati won its first 15 games of the season and closed strong with five victories in its last six regular-season contests to secure its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005. Yancy Gates led the Bearcats with 11.9 points and 6.9 rebounds and Sean Kilpatrick was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team. UC defeated Missouri 78-63 before falling to eventual national champion UConn 69-58 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bearcats finished 26-9 overall.
// PRIOR TO CINCINNATI
Success seems to follow Cronin, who came to Cincinnati after serving three years as head coach at Murray State (2004-06). As mentor of the Racers, Cronin compiled a 69-24 overall record while earning a pair of NCAA Tournament berths.
In his debut season as head coach, Cronin directed Murray State to a school-best 28-6 record, the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. His 28 wins were the sixth most in NCAA history for a first-year head coach at the time. He earned OVC Coach of the Year honors two seasons later, guiding Murray State to another OVC regular-season title, league tournament crown and NCAA Tournament appearance with a 24-6 mark in 2005-06.
Prior to Murray State, Cronin built a sterling reputation for his ability to evaluate and recruit top talent. In his stint at UC as an assistant coach for Bob Huggins from 1997-2001, Cronin 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).
Following the 2000-01 season, Cronin became the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisville, under Rick Pitino. In his first year, Cronin helped attract a top-10 ranked recruiting class.
// COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Cronin’s passion for success on the court also carries over to the local community where he is committed to making a difference. He currently serves as a board member on both the American Cancer Society in Cincinnati and the ACS’s Coaches vs. Cancer program.
He also assists with a major fundraising event - Soul of the City Soiree - for Our Daily Bread that has generated more than $100,000 multiple times to assist the soup kitchen and community center in Cincinnati.
Cronin also annually speaks with the Young Executive Group of the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education (CISE) Fund. The group raises money from area corporations to help give children from low income urban settings the opportunity to attend Catholic schools.
// PATH TO COACHING
Cronin has long held great pride in the Queen City, the University of Cincinnati and the sport of basketball. As a child growing up on the west side of town, he used to follow his father Harold “Hep” Cronin -- a highly successful local high school coach with more than 400 career wins -- around the gyms of Cincinnati. A product of LaSalle High School, Cronin had his playing career end sooner than expected due to a knee injury in high school.
That didn’t stop his desire to find his place in basketball. While completing his undergraduate degree at UC, Cronin served as assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at Woodward High School. He helped develop six players who went on to play Division I college basketball, including former Bearcat Damon Flint, who ranks among the top 25 scorers in program history.
Cronin made the jump from high school to college coaching during the 1996-97 season joining Huggins as video coordinator at UC. A year later, Cronin was elevated to an assistant coach for the Bearcats, setting the stage for his long tenure in college basketball.
Cronin resides in Cincinnati with his 12-year old daughter, Samantha.
// THE CRONIN FILE
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Alma Mater: Cincinnati ‘97
Family: daughter, Samantha
// COACHING EXPERIENCE
1998-2001: Assistant Coach, Cincinnati
2002-2003: Associate Head Coach, Louisville
2004-2006: Head Coach, Murray State
2007-Present: Head Coach, Cincinnati
// AWARDS
-2018 Sporting News National Coach of the Year
-2018 Naismith Trophy National Coach of the Year Semifinalist
-2014 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
-2014 NABC District 25 Coach of the Year
-2014 USBWA Henry Iba Award Finalist
-2006 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year
// NOTES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
One of only six coaches to take his team to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last nine years, joining Mark Few (Gonzaga), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Bill Self (Kansas) and Roy Williams (North Carolina).
Leads the nation for most Division I wins (365) among active coaches under the age of 50.
Cincinnati, along with Virginia, are the only programs to rank among the nation's Top 25 in scoring defense each of the last seven seasons.
The Bearcats claimed the 2014 and 2018 American Athletic Conference regular-season crowns and the 2018 and 2019 AAC Tournament titles.
Murray State won the 2004 Ohio Valley Tournament crown and the 2006 OVC regular-season and tournament title.
Cronin has directed 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament as a head coach and advanced 16 teams to the Big Dance as a head coach or assistant.
// CRONIN'S COACHING RECORD
| Season | School (League) | Position | Record | League Record | League Finish | League Tourney Finish | Postseason Tournament Finish |
| 1996-97 | Cincinnati (C-USA) |
Video Coordinator | |||||
| 1997-98 | Cincinnati (C-USA) |
Assistant Coach | 27-6 | 14-2 | 1st (American Division) |
Champions (3-0) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 1998-99 | Cincinnati (C-USA) |
Assistant Coach | 27-6 | 12-4 | 1st (American Division) |
Semifinals (1-1) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 1999-2000 | Cincinnati (C-USA) |
Assistant Coach | 29-4 | 16-0 | 1st (American Division) |
Quarterfinals (0-1) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2000-01 | Cincinnati (C-USA) |
Assistant Coach | 25-10 | 11-5 | 1st (American Division) |
Finals (2-1) |
NCAA Regional Semifinals (2-1) |
| 2001-02 | Louisville (C-USA) |
Associate Head Coach |
19-13 | 8-8 | 5th (American Division) |
Quarterfinals (1-1) |
NIT Second Round (1-1) |
| 2002-03 | Louisville (C-USA) |
Associate Head Coach |
25-7 | 11-5 | 2nd (American Division) |
First Round (0-1) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2003-04 | Murray State (OVC) |
Head Coach | 28-6 | 14-2 | 2nd | Champions (3-0) |
NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2004-05 | Murray State (OVC) |
Head Coach | 17-11 | 11-5 | 3rd | Quarterfinals (0-1) |
None |
| 2005-06 | Murray State (OVC) |
Head Coach | 24-7 | 17-3 | 1st | Champions (3-0) |
NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| Murray State Totals |
3 Years | 69-24 (.742) |
42-10 (.808) |
||||
| 2006-07 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 11-19 | 2-14 | 16th | None | None |
| 2007-08 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 13-19 | 8-10 | 10th | First Round (0-1) |
CBI First Round (0-1) |
| 2008-09 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 18-14 | 8-10 | 9th | First Round (0-1) |
None |
| 2009-10 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 19-16 | 7-11 | 11th | Quarterfinals (2-1) |
NIT Second Round (1-1) |
| 2010-11 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 26-9 | 11-7 | T-6th | Quarterfinals (1-1) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2011-12 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 26-11 | 12-6 | T-4th | Finals (2-1) |
NCAA Regional Semifinals (2-1) |
| 2012-13 | Cincinnati (BIG EAST) |
Head Coach | 22-12 | 9-9 | T-9th | Quarterfinals (1-1) |
NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2013-14 | Cincinnati (American) |
Head Coach | 27-7 | 15-3 | T-1st | Semifinals (1-1) |
NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2014-15 | Cincinnati (American) |
Head Coach | 23-11 | 13-5 | T-3rd | Quarterfinals (0-1) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2015-16 | Cincinnati (American) |
Head Coach | 22-11 | 12-6 | T-3rd | Quarterfinals (0-1) |
NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| 2016-17 | Cincinnati (American) |
Head Coach | 30-6 | 16-2 | 2nd | Finals (2-1) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2017-18 | Cincinnati (American) |
Head Coach | 31-5 | 16-2 | 1st | Champions (3-0) |
NCAA Second Round (1-1) |
| 2018-19 | Cincinnati (American) |
Head Coach | 28-7 | 14-4 | 2nd | Champions (3-0) |
NCAA First Round (0-1) |
| Cincinnati Totals | 13 Years | 296-147 (.668) |
143-89 (.616) |
||||
| Head Coaching Totals | 16 Years | 365-171 (.681) |
185-99 (.651) |