Report: UCLA's Mick Cronin, Northwestern's Chris Collins considered candidates for Villanova job

According to Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media, two active Big Ten head coaches are considered candidates for the Villanova job. UCLA‘s Mick Cronin has been labeled a “dark horse contender” to wind up in Philadelphia while Chris Collins of Northwestern has been linked as well.

“UCLA coach Mick Cronin is a ‘dark horse’ contender for the job along with Northwestern’s Chris Collins, multiple people close to the situation said,” Zagoria said.

Villanova is looking for a second head coach since Jay Wright retired. Kyle Neptune was recently fired after failing to make the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons after replacing Wright. Neptune’s overall record was just five games over .500.

On3’s Joe Tipton has put together a hot board of other candidates for the Villanova job. It’s still early in the coaching carousel with the NCAA Tournament set to officially begin on Thursday. While the Wildcats made a move with Neptune early, you have to imagine many of their phone calls will be made to coaches in the field of 68.

Cronin currently is while Collins is not. UCLA earned a seven-seed on Selection Sunday and will go up against Utah State in Lexington. Winning would bring a matchup against the winner of Tennessee–Wofford. After finishing below .500 last year, UCLA is back in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in six years under Cronin.

If Villanova was able to hire the Bruins’ headman, it would be a cross-country move for Cronin. He has never coached in the Northeast but did find success at Cincinnati before taking the UCLA job. Travel has been a big gripe of Cronin’s this season in the Big Ten and coaching in the Big East would eliminate the hassle.

As for Northwestern, they wrapped up their season in Indianapolis on Thursday. Finishing 13th in the Big Ten meant they just squeaked into the conference tournament before beating Minnesota in the first round. One day later, Wisconsin was able to take down the Wildcats.

Collins would be available to talk as soon as possible. There is a family connection between Collins and the city of Philadelphia as his father, Doug, is the former coach of the 76ers.

Villanova is one of the proudest college basketball programs out there. Competing for national championships is the expectation and after a sluggish three years under Neptune, finding somebody who can live up to the standard has to be the goal.