Mick Cronin - Men's Basketball Coach

Photo by: Scott Chandler

Mick Cronin

Title:
The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach
Alma Mater:
Cincinnati, '97

Mick Cronin enters his seventh season as UCLA’s head coach in 2025-26. Through 22 seasons as a collegiate head coach, he has led his teams to an overall record of 503-235 (.682 percentage). Cronin was named The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach on April 9, 2019.

Through the past six seasons at UCLA, Cronin has guided the Bruins to a record of 138-64 and an 81-36 mark in conference play – five years in the Pac-12 and one season in the Big Ten. 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. In addition, the Bruins secured three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (2021-23) for the first time since 2006-08.

Cronin has led the Bruins to a 38-23 record in contests decided by five points or fewer (including all games that advanced to overtime). In addition, the Bruins have gone 105-9 over the past six seasons when limiting the opposition to 65 points or fewer.

Cronin has guided his teams to 15 NCAA Tournament berths in 22 seasons as a college head coach. He steered UCLA’s program to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 (Final Four), 2022 (Sweet 16), 2023 (Sweet 16) and 2025 (Round of 32). The 2020 NCAA Tournament was abruptly canceled during the week of conference tournaments, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through his first three NCAA Tournament trips at UCLA, Cronin had built an impressive streak of 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, spanning from 2011 through 2023. He led the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, 2022 and 2023, after having led Cincinnati to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in his final nine seasons with the Bearcats.

Cronin arrived at UCLA in April of 2019 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 13 of the past 15 seasons (UCLA’s 19-win season in 2019-20 was cut short after 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 24.9 victories over the past 15 seasons (2010-11 through 2024-25). 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 167-58 conference-only record (.742) during his last 12 seasons.

Through the 2024-25 basketball season, Cronin led all NCAA Division I head coaches (age 55 or younger) in career victories with 503 wins. Over the previous 15 seasons (2010-11 through 2024-25), Cronin has totaled 373 victories. His teams have logged a 373-143 overall record through the previous 15 seasons – his final nine years at Cincinnati and his six seasons at UCLA. He secured career coaching victory No. 500 on Feb. 23, 2025, as the Bruins outlasted Ohio State, 69-61, in a home game in Pauley Pavilion.

Through his first five seasons at UCLA, Cronin had 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 five seasons, UCLA has secured eight spots on the end-of-season all-conference defensive team. Two players, Jaylen Clark in 2023 and Adem Bona in 2024, were honored as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Clark was twice recognized as a Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection (2022, 2023), while Bona was honored in each of his two seasons in Westwood (2023, 2024). Jaquez. Jr. was recognized during his sophomore and junior seasons (2021, 2022). UCLA had three of the five all-defensive selections in 2022, with Clark, Jaquez Jr. and Myles Johnson. In 2025, Kobe Johnson was one of five players named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.

The Bruins’ program produced five NBA Draft selections in three consecutive NBA Drafts from 2022-24, including a pair of first-round draft picks in Peyton Watson (2022, Denver Nuggets) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2023, Miami Heat). UCLA has also seen Amari Bailey (2023), Jaylen Clark (2023) and Adem Bona (2024) chosen in the second round of the NBA Draft, while Jules Bernard and Johnny Juzang have advanced to the NBA as free agent acquisitions.

During Cronin’s six 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.

UCLA advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2025, compiling a 23-11 record and a 13-7 mark in the program’s first-ever season in the Big Ten. UCLA finished in a tie for fourth-place in the 18-team league. For the fourth straight season, the Bruins led their conference in scoring defense, limiting the opposition to 65.2 points per game (ranked No. 22, nationally). Tyler Bilodeau led the Bruins in scoring (13.5 ppg) and secured third-team All-Big Ten honors. UCLA ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation in turnover margin (No. 7, at +4.6) and among the top 20 programs in turnovers forced per game (No. 16, at 15.1). The Bruins went 12-5 through their final 17 games, including a seven-game win streak from mid-January into early February.

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 (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 straight 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 National 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). Chris Smith was honored as the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player of the Year in 2020 and secured first-team All-Pac-12 recognition.

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.

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). Cincinnati secured two American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season titles (2014, 2018) and a pair of second-place finishes. 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. As a student 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.

While in Cincinnati, Cronin served as a board member on both the American Cancer Society (in Cincinnati) and the ACS’s Coaches vs. Cancer program. He 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, 54, graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1997 with his bachelor’s degree in history. He has an 18-year-old daughter, Samantha.