UCLA Basketball: Writer Hails Mick Cronin As A Top 10 College Hoops Coach
UCLA men's basketball head coach Mick Cronin is embarking on his fifth season leading the club, and he's already made quite an impact during his short stint with the program.
During his first season without Jaime Jaquez Jr. on the roster, Cronin will hope that an influx of international talent, highlighted by center Aday Mara and forward Berke Buyuktuncel, can fill the void by the Miami Heat's new swingman.
Jamie Shaw of On3.com, for one, seems pretty confident, having ranked Cronin among the ten best coaches in college.
Shaw notes that, with the Bruins, Cronin has amassed one Final Four appearance, four Pac-12 regular season conference championships, and four Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards. He cumulatively boasts a 462-206 NCAA record (99-36 with the Bruins), across a 20-year career (so far) leading Murray State, Cincinnati, and now UCLA.
While with Cincinnati, Cronin was also named the Sporting News Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year in 2018 and the AAC Coach of the Year in 2014. He was honored as the OVC Coach of the Year in 2006 at the end of his stint with Murray State.
The 14th head coach in UCLA history, currently under contract with the program through the 2027-28 NCAA season, most recently led the Bruins to their third straight Sweet Sixteen appearance.
