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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

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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."