Cronin brings nine years of experience to MNUFC from his holding-midfield role and was an immediate difference maker for the Loons upon being traded from Colorado on March 31, 2017. He provided relief from the center of the pitch and started 18 of 18 games for the expansion side, but ended his season early due to injury.
He first joined the league in 2009, when he was selected second overall by Toronto FC in the MLS SuperDraft. Cronin played a year and a half with the Reds before being traded to San Jose Earthquakes. He made over 140 appearances for the Quakes over the next three-plus seasons, scoring five goals, winning the 2012 MLS Supporters' Shield and being voted the team's most valuable player in 2013.
Cronin signed with Colorado Rapids in 2015 and made his first MLS All-Star appearance that same year. He helped lead the Rapids to a second-place finish in the Western Conference and a spot in the MLS Cup Conference Finals.
The defensive midfielder played college soccer at Wake Forest University, where he started 98 of 98 games across his career and was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and a MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist as a senior. Prior to joining the Demon Deacons, Cronin played his high school soccer at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and won all-conference, all-region, all-state, all-south, Metro Conference Player of the Year and 2003 NSCAA Youth Adidas All-American accolades.