Call it underwhelming. Call it disappointing. Call it whatever you will. But, on the 100th day of the school’s search for a replacement for Steve Alford, someone finally said “Yes!” to UCLA’s basketball search committee. As a result, the UCLA Bruins finally have a new head basketball coach this morning and it’s Mick Cronin, formerly of the Cincinnati Bearcats. 100 days and the best that Dan Guerrero and company could do is someone who’s been to the Sweet 16 once. Well, he’s not Steve Alford, even if his tournament record is no better than Alford’s. In a statement, UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said: Mick Cronin is a fierce competitor, and I’m excited to welcome him to Westwood. Mick has built a fantastic program at Cincinnati, backed by integrity and discipline, and he has instilled an undeniable toughness in his student-athletes. I am confident he will build this program the right way and lead UCLA basketball back to national prominence. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block had this to say: At UCLA, we expect our coaches to inspire student-athletes to strive for the very best in everything they do – during a game, in the classroom and out in the community. I have great hopes for Mick Cronin and am confident he understands our values of academic and athletic excellence, recognizing the very high bar set by Coach John Wooden. The statement also quotes Cronin: I am incredibly humbled and honored to become the head coach at UCLA. I’m especially grateful to Chancellor Block and to Dan Guerrero for this opportunity to join the Bruin Family. UCLA is a very special place with a strong tradition of excellence. To be able to join such a world-class institution is truly a privilege, and I can’t wait to get started in Westwood. But the winner for the oddest quote of the day goes to search committee member Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers: Throughout what was a thorough and exhaustive search, those of us on the committee repeatedly discussed and emphasized the importance of bringing in a coach who really wants to be here. As a former player who knows firsthand how special it is to wear the four letters – UCLA – I am excited that we got a coach in Mick who wants to be a part of this historic program. I’m grateful to Dan Guerrero for allowing me this opportunity. Wait. What? OK, well, we know that, by the end of Alford’s tenure he didn’t really want to be in Westwood any longer. But why exactly would the search committee emphasize “the importance of bringing in a coach who really wants to be here”? Oh, yeah, maybe it has to do with the fact that the search committee did an awful job at attracting a more successful coach. Let’s look a little more at Cronin’s career. He’s been a head coach for 16 seasons. In his first three years at Murray State, his winning percentage was .742 and the Racers finished 2nd in the Ohio Valley Conference twice and won it once. They made the NCAA Tournament twice and lost in the first round both times. In 2006, he took over at Cincinnati. During his first four years at his alma mater, they missed the NCAA Tournament each year, but made the CBI and the NIT once each. Since then, the Bearcats have made the Tournament in each of the last nine seasons. Four times, they made it to the second round and, four times, they lost in the first round. In 2011-12, the Bearcats made their only Sweet 16 under Cronin. Under Cronin, the Bearcats had a .670 winning percentage. While Bruin fans still have a reason to be upset over the way the search went down and the failure of the search committee to bring in a coach with more success, the bigger question is whether or not Cronin will be able to bring UCLA back to prominence. In typical Dan Guerrero fashion, Cronin is being given plenty of time to do it as UCLA is giving Cronin a 6-year, $24 million contract, which is rather ridiculous given that there’s virtually no way that Guerrero plans to be at UCLA that long. The only thing such a long-term contract does is potentially commit UCLA and UCLA’s donors to be on the hook for bigger buyout in the event that Guerrero’s replacement decides a change is necesssary. Well, I guess that’s one way to for Guerrero to cement his legacy as one of the worst athletic directors ever. What are your thoughts on Cronin’s hiring? Sound off below. Go Bruins.<doc-sep>UCLA's coaching search has mercifully come to an end. After a messy and bungled search that saw Kentucky's John Calipari, TCU's Jamie Dixon and Tennessee's Rick Barnes draw interest but ultimately stay put, the school announced Tuesday it has hired Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin. He'll be paid $24 million over the span of his newly-signed six-year deal. "Mick Cronin is a fierce competitor, and I'm excited to welcome him to Westwood," athletic director Dan Guerrero said. "Mick has built a fantastic program at Cincinnati, backed by integrity and discipline, and he has instilled an undeniable toughness in his student-athletes. I am confident he will build this program the right way and lead UCLA basketball back to national prominence." Cronin was a name constantly brought up in the search, and with buzz of Barnes leaving the Vols for Westwood dying on Sunday, the search shifted back to Cronin, who will be officially introduced on Wednesday. "I am incredibly humbled and honored to become the head coach at UCLA," said Cronin. "I'm especially grateful to Chancellor Block and to Dan Guerrero for this opportunity to join the Bruin Family. UCLA is a very special place with a strong tradition of excellence. To be able to join such a world-class institution is truly a privilege, and I can't wait to get started in Westwood." Cronin has won at a high level during his tenure at Cincinnati, and while his lack of NCAA Tournament success over the years may be a sticking point (he has never made an Elite Eight and only once made a Sweet 16), he's highly regarded as a tough-nosed coach and brilliant basketball mind. At Cincy, he has also done more with less -- but now, he could do a whole lot more with the talent at his disposal in Westwood. Cronin has a 296-147 overall record at Cincinnati since he took over the program in 2006, and has made nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to taking over at his alma mater of Cincinnati, Cronin was head coach at Murray State and also served as an assistant at Louisville and Cincinnati.<doc-sep>Hide Transcript Show Transcript GEORGE: HE HAS TURNED DOWN OTHER JOBS BEFORE, BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE ABOUT U.C. THAN IT DOES UCLA. FROM WHAT I KNOW, MICK CRONIN WANTED TO STAY IN CINCINNATI, BUT THE BEARCATS AND MICK COULD NOT FINALIZE A DEAL THEY WERE WORKING ON. THE MONEY WAS RIGHT, BUT THE NUMBER OF YEARS WAS AN ISSUE, AND WHEN UCLA CAME IN WITH MORE MONEY AND MORE YEARS ON A DEAL, IT LEFT MICK WITH THE FEELING THAT IT WAS TIME TO GO MICK CAME TO THE BEARCATS IN 2006, TAKING OVER A PROGRAM THAT WAS DECIMATED BY THE MESSY DEPARTURE OF BOB HUGGINS, IN 2011, MICK LED UC BACK TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, THE FIRST OF 9 STRAIGHT APPEARANCES IN THE BIG DANCE. AND YES, HE ONLY TOOK THE CATS TO ONE SWEET 16 IN THAT TIME, BUT HE HAS WON 89 GAMES IN THE PAST THREE SEASONS. HE INFORMED UC ON HIS DECISION THIS MORNING. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MIKE BOHN THEN ISSUED THIS STATEMENT. WE ARE THANKFUL TO MICK FOR HIS WORK OVER THE PAST 13 SEASONS, ELEVATING HIS ALMA MATER INTO ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. WE WISH HIM WELL AT UCLA. WE WILL BEGIN MOVING FORWARD IMMEDIATELY ON A NATIONAL SEARCH TO FIND OUR NEXT HEAD COAC MICK WILL BE LEAVING FOR LOS ANGELES WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, THE DEAL HE HIS GETTING FROM THE BRUINS IS A REPORTED 6 YEAR DEAL WORTH $24 MILLION. I AM TOLD THIS WAS NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY. THIS WAS ABOUT HIM NEEDING TO KNOW THAT HE Advertisement Mick Cronin introduced as UCLA head basketball coach Cronin agrees to a six-year contract worth $24 million Share Shares Copy Link Copy Men's basketball coach Mick Cronin is leaving the University of Cincinnati.Cronin was hired Tuesday by UCLA, the school confirmed. The Bruins agreed to hire Cronin, ending a lengthy search that started the final day of December.Cronin becomes the 14th head coach in UCLA men's basketball history, agreeing to a six-year contract worth $24 million.It is unknown who will take the reins in Cincinnati.Cronin has compiled a 365-171 record in 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach.Cronin arrived in Cincinnati during the 2006-2007 season. He coached for his alma mater the past 13 seasons (2006-19), leading the Bearcats' program on a remarkable turnaround and guiding Cincinnati to the NCAA Tournament each of the past nine seasons.Cronin has become one of just six coaches in the nation to have led his program to the NCAA Tournament the last nine seasons.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. He secured American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year acclaim in 2014 in addition to being named the NABC's District 25 Coach of the Year. He currently leads the country for most NCAA Division I victories (365) among active coaches under the age of 50.A native of Cincinnati, Cronin helped bring about a rebirth of the Bearcats' program, built upon toughness, tenacious defense and a continued all-out effort. In the past seven seasons, Cronin's teams at Cincinnati have ranked among the nation's top 25 in scoring defense. Virginia is the only other team with that distinction.Cronin graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in history. He started his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach at Woodward High School while he was completing his undergraduate work. Prior to becoming the head coach at Murray State in 2003, Cronin served as a video coordinator and assistant coach at Cincinnati and as the associate head coach at Louisville.Cronin released a statement late Tuesday, saying:"When I came home 13 years ago, I was a young coach with a great love for my alma mater. I was determined to restore Cincinnati back to prominence and gave everything I had to that mission. "Along the way, myself, my staff, our players, our athletic department support and our fans all came together as one to make Cincinnati Basketball whole again. "And along this tough, hard road I realized that the way we compete is more important that the outcome. I hope this is what our players at Cincinnati have learned from me. "In my departure I hope that the University of Cincinnati community will stay together the same way we have come together the last 13 years to be the Class of our League in men's basketball. "I love Cincinnati and the University. I love all of our players past and present and I wish everyone the very best. I would like to thank them for giving us everything they had on the court while wearing the C-Paw on their chest. "A special thanks to the many supporters and fans of our program. We accomplished bringing UC back to the national stage and built a beautiful arena for the future. "To President Pinto, Mike Bohn and my past presidents and athletic directors, thank you for believing in me and our program. "I will always be a Bearcat and the entire Cronin family is appreciative of your support. "Thank you."<doc-sep>
Jeff Borzello breaks down UCLA's hiring of Mick Cronin from Cincinnati after spending exactly 100 days in their head coaching search. (1:45) One hundred days since UCLA fired Steve Alford, the Bruins finally have their new head coach. Mick Cronin, who led the Cincinnati Bearcats to nine consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, has agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract with UCLA, it was announced Tuesday. "Mick Cronin is a fierce competitor, and I'm excited to welcome him to Westwood," UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. "Mick has built a fantastic program at Cincinnati, backed by integrity and discipline, and he has instilled an undeniable toughness in his student-athletes. I am confident he will build this program the right way and lead UCLA basketball back to national prominence." We're thrilled to announce that Mick Cronin will become our program's next head coach. Welcome to Los Angeles, Coach Cronin! 🏀🌴☀️ NEWS: https://t.co/wBvFYog3ep pic.twitter.com/fM065dqda0 — UCLA Basketball (@UCLAMBB) April 9, 2019 Cronin heads to Westwood after 13 years at Cincinnati. He has won at least 20 games in each of the past nine seasons and has an 89-18 record over the past three seasons with the Bearcats. The Cincinnati native is one of six coaches to lead his team to the NCAA tournament in each of the past nine seasons, along with Mark Few, Tom Izzo, Mike Krzyzewski, Bill Self and Roy Williams. Only once did Cronin advance past the first weekend of the tournament (2012). Before joining Cincinnati, Cronin spent three seasons at Murray State, where he led the Racers to two NCAA tournaments. "I am incredibly humbled and honored to become the head coach at UCLA," Cronin said. "I'm especially grateful to Chancellor [Gene] Block and to Dan Guerrero for this opportunity to join the Bruin Family. UCLA is a very special place with a strong tradition of excellence. To be able to join such a world-class institution is truly a privilege, and I can't wait to get started in Westwood." Cronin has a reputation as a tough, hard-nosed coach and will look to rebuild the Bruins after a 17-16 campaign and drawn-out, public coaching search. UCLA pursued Kentucky's John Calipari, but he wound up signing a lifetime contract with the Wildcats. The Bruins then turned their focus toward TCU's Jamie Dixon, but the two sides couldn't work out a buyout with the Horned Frogs. This past weekend, UCLA offered $5 million per year to Tennessee's Rick Barnes, but he opted to remain with the Volunteers. Cronin replaces Alford, who was fired on New Year's Eve after five-plus seasons at UCLA. He led UCLA to three Sweet 16 appearances in his four NCAA tournament berths. Memphis Grizzlies assistant Nick Van Exel has interest in the head-coaching job Cincinnati, where he played, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.