UCLA Hires Mick Cronin

[shadow force]

It took four tries for one of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the country to find a coach to take its money. UCLA announced Tuesday it is hiring Mick Cronin from Cincinnati, ending a search that had become a laughingstock after the Bruins had whiffed on John Calipari, Jamie Dixon and Rick Barnes. Barnes, the Tennessee coach, had been the latest to turn down the job Monday, after he was reportedly weighing the offer from UCLA until his current bosses stepped up and kept him with a substantial raise.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost...cla-coach-search-is-only-getting-funnier/amp/

 

[MikesMarbles]

I bet they wish they had kept Alford at this point.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Cronin is a good coach, not an elite one, certainly not who I pictured the most prestigious NCAABM's program of all time hiring.

 

[MikesMarbles]

It doesn't seem that long ago that UCLA was too good to accept Steve Lavin and his Sweet 16's.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

I bet they wish they had kept Alford at this point.

IDK Something about Alford that rubbed them the wrong way from what I've read. Never considered him to be that good at Iowa or New Mexico. IMO he is like a lot of thoroughbreds, great pedigree but doesn't show it on the track.

Mick to LA? Mick is definitely not a So-Cal guy, but when your employer wants to continually pay you at a hometown discount you have to look elsewhere. He can get his Skyline Chili overnighted to LA. I wish him the best. Screw UC.

 

[PHCARD]

Wow, I’m surprised Cronin was even interested. I guess he was ready to move on far far away, if need be.

 

[Cue Card]

Wow, I’m surprised Cronin was even interested. I guess he was ready to move on far far away, if need be.

He went from 2.2 million a year to 4 million a year by saying yes to UCLA.

I don't blame him. He's 47 years old and he darn near doubled his base salary. Hope he enjoys his life in LA. It will be different compared to Cincinnati.

 

[Knucklehank1]

Seems like a bad fit

 

[glassmanJ]

i never thought alford could coach and was a bad hire. cronin can actually coach basketball and will take ucla to the tourney every year and if he gets any players should win the pac

 

[KozmasAgain]

He’s going to need that extra 1.8 million to balance the cost of living between Los Angeles and Cincinnati he’s really just about breaking even. I really never thought of Mick Cronin as an elite coach you think they would have gone for a west coast guy someone more familiar with the recruiting in that region.

 

[CommodoreCard]

I don’t see Cronin as a good fit in La La Land. Then again, neither was Alford.

 

[WhatMeWorry]

I bet they wish they had kept Alford at this point.

Nobody wishes that. The players hated Alford and performed much better after he was gone.

 

[fredburgcard_rivals157045]

Cronin is a Cincinnati boy. I’m surprised UC didn’t step up with more money to keep him. Cincinnati TV station talking about NKU coach, Thad Motta, or, wait for it, Rick Pitino replacing Cronin.

 

[vivid_red]

Mick going from pedestrian Cincinnati to LA, major cultural shift. Don't get me wrong I like Cincinnati, the city, but LA life style would be a blast. Mick's a good coach and will be successful if he can get the players. I expect he'll be back east in about 3 years with a better gig than the Bearcats.

 

[Glenn's Take]

IMO he is like a lot of thoroughbreds, great pedigree but doesn't show it on the track.

I was watching HRTV one time and Laffit Pincay III was talking. His dad was the all time leader in wins by a jockey until about 5 years ago. He said, "this horse reminds me of me. He's got the pedigree but the numbers just ain't there." I laughed for about 5 minutes.

 

[MikesMarbles]

Nobody wishes that. The players hated Alford and performed much better after he was gone.

I think they may regret it from a big picture point of view. They went from one "Meh" coach to another, and in the process were completely exposed and embarrassed getting turned down. And now the "secret" is out that they're no longer a big time player in the sport.

I think they'll probably win a little more under Cronin but I doubt he's the answer they were hoping for.

Watching their coaching search just makes me doubly happy with where we are right now with Mack.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

Cronin is a Cincinnati boy. I’m surprised UC didn’t step up with more money to keep him. Cincinnati TV station talking about NKU coach, Thad Motta, or, wait for it, Rick Pitino replacing Cronin.

John Brannen at NKU would be attractive for them. A local guy ( Newport Catholic HS) who has taken NKU from D-II to D-I successfully. The dude can coach. He was formerly on Anthony Grant's staff at Alabama. IDK if the position would be attractive to him or if he is waiting on something bigger.
Plus, if it doesn't work out they can always blame the state of Kentucky, as always.

 

[nccardfan]

Wow, I’m surprised Cronin was even interested. I guess he was ready to move on far far away, if need be.

I think both were due for a change. Cronin couldn’t seem to get over the hump.

 

[LouisvilleKid79]

Mick going from pedestrian Cincinnati to LA, major cultural shift. Don't get me wrong I like Cincinnati, the city, but LA life style would be a blast. Mick's a good coach and will be successful if he can get the players. I expect he'll be back east in about 3 years with a better gig than the Bearcats.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that’s not from Cincinnati say they like Cincinnati, Cinti, Queen City or whatever they like to call it. I lived there for a short time... key word is short.

I agree with other post. This seems like a bad fit for Cronin. We will see.

 

[Sawyer_rivals136976]

Seems like a bad fit

Agree. Nothing about Cronin and UCLA seems to fit. But he is a good coach and a tough little guy. His biggest challenge will be earning the respect of the fan base and the players...a big challenge, even for a tall guy. I have always liked him and hope him the best but will be surprised if things work there.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that’s not from Cincinnati say they like Cincinnati, Cinti, Queen City or whatever they like to call it. I lived there for a short time... key word is short.

I agree with other post. This seems like a bad fit for Cronin. We will see.

Mark Twain once said in the event of his death to please ship his body to Cincinnati. He would have another 20 years to live.

 

[MikesMarbles]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that’s not from Cincinnati say they like Cincinnati, Cinti, Queen City or whatever they like to call it. I lived there for a short time... key word is short.

I've enjoyed visiting. They have some good museums, Newport Aquarium, going to a Reds game was fun when they were still competitive about 10 years ago. I guess I don't have anything major against the city itself.

 

[fredburgcard_rivals157045]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that’s not from Cincinnati say they like Cincinnati,

I'm not from Cincinnati but have lived here for 15 years. When we moved here we expected to stay a few years till I retired and then move to Louisville. We've stayed. I'm close enough to Louisville where I grew up to visit family and attend UofL events. Cincinnati offers more in the way of professional sports, restaurants, health care, and things to do. Now you've heard from someone not from Cincinnati who likes it.

 

[Morgantown Card]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that’s not from Cincinnati say they like Cincinnati, Cinti, Queen City or whatever they like to call it. I lived there for a short time... key word is short.

I agree with other post. This seems like a bad fit for Cronin. We will see.

This is going to sound like I'm being a contrarian, but I promise that's not it. I lived there for 11 years....loved everything about that city.

 

[Morgantown Card]

Agree. Nothing about Cronin and UCLA seems to fit.

Mick in Cincinnati:

Mick on his first day on the job in Los Angeles:

 

[shadow force]

It's going to be interesting to see what Cronin can do at UCLA. Will he be able to up his recruiting and can he improve his track record in the Tourney?

I think he can get them to the dance regularly but if he can't do better than he has at Cincy then he'll be out within a few years.

 

[vivid_red]

Like others have said good restaurants, pro sports, beautiful homes and apartments overlooking theiver.
If you haven't been to Mt. Adams, Hyde Park or Over The Rhine, The Taft Theater and museum you need to check them out. A lot to see and do there.

 

[zipp_rivals]

This is going to sound like I'm being a contrarian, but I promise that's not it. I lived there for 11 years....loved everything about that city.

I like Mick, I've been there countless times, and I've never had issues with Cincy. It seems like a comfortable city to me.

And unlike Lexington, its identity is not a challenge to Louisville. It's a more northern, pro town that wants to be seen that way. Louisville wants the opposite, and we're good with that except for a handful who want us to be more like Nashville or Indy.

There's beauty in diversity...

 

[gocds]

I didn’t lose anything in Cincy. I’ve been treated rudely there and I don’t like going there. I’m not a huge professional sports guy so piss on Cincy.

GO CARDS - BEAT EVERYBODY!!! God Bless America!!!

 

[CommodoreCard]

Even though, geographically, Cincinnati is closer to Louisville than Indy or Nashville, Louisville has a lot more in common culturally with Indy and Nashville. Cincinnati always seemed more of an “Eastern” city than Midwestern or Southern. They are the furthest West, most Eastern city in the US. If that makes sense .

 

[KozmasAgain]

I agree I think we have more in common with Nashville than we do with Cincinnati. I have spent more time in Nashville than I have in Cincinnati but like every city there are pros and cons.

 

[nccardfan]

If you like country music, Nashville is for you. Cincinnati is more rock n roll, like me.

 

[shutzhund]

He went from 2.2 million a year to 4 million a year by saying yes to UCLA.

I don't blame him. He's 47 years old and he darn near doubled his base salary. Hope he enjoys his life in LA. It will be different compared to Cincinnati.

So much better

 

[KozmasAgain]

A 1500 sq. ft. House in a decent part of LA goes for over a million. Taxes are double cost of living is higher at best it is a lateral move.

 

[kypecos]

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that’s not from Cincinnati say they like Cincinnati, Cinti, Queen City or whatever they like to call it. I lived there for a short time... key word is short.

I agree with other post. This seems like a bad fit for Cronin. We will see.

I'm from Cinti/N.Ky and all of my family/friends are still there. All that I can say is that when they visit me in Louisville, they don't want to go back.

 

[nccardfan]

A 1500 sq. ft. House in a decent part of LA goes for over a million. Taxes are double cost of living is higher at best it is a lateral move.

Maybe he’s got the same accountant as Trumpy Bear!

 

[WhatMeWorry]

Mick isn't going to have to live in any 1500 SF house, for god's sake. You guys sound so parochial. There are other places to live than Louisville.

 

[KozmasAgain]

I had a project in LA and I had to rent a studio apartment for 3 months. I was off Bronson Avenue at 5967 Chula Vista Way and it cost me $2200.00 per month. I had no curtains or carpet and it was one big room. The only doors in the whole apartment was the front door and the bathroom door. Nick might be surprised when reality sets in.

 

[WhatMeWorry]

I had a project in LA and I had to rent a studio apartment for 3 months. I was off Bronson Avenue at 5967 Chula Vista Way and it cost me $2200.00 per month. I had no curtains or carpet and it was one big room. The only doors in the whole apartment was the front door and the bathroom door. Nick might be surprised when reality sets in.

I'm pretty sure you aren't making $4 million a year, which makes your example sill, at best.

 

[KozmasAgain]

You missed the point of my post, the example is if a studio apartment is $2200.00 a month for 400 Sq. ft. How much is a modest 3 bedroom house? If you check the real estate market for LA a 3 bedroom house in a middle class neighborhood is well over a million.