Cincinnati Basketball: Mick Cronin Officially Turns Down UNLV, Will Remain UC’s Head Basketball Coach

Cincinnati Bearcats head men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin has officially turned down UNLV’s offer and will continue coaching at UC. The school made it official in a very vague press release that made it seem like business as usual rather than him shopping around out West.

I found it rather interesting but, regardless, Mick’s statement says it all about his feelings over the last few days.

"“I would like people to try and understand after 10 years of dedicated service I chose to evaluate my career and my life,” Cronin said. “Reflecting through that process was extremely difficult, but it was something I needed to do for me personally. The city of Cincinnati and the University are special places to me and I’ve always said what an honor it is to be the head coach at my alma mater. This program has come such a long way in 10 years and we’ve still got work to do and goals to achieve. The 2016-17 season starts for me today and I can’t wait for the future that lies ahead for the Bearcats and this University.”"

When Mick returned to Cincinnati on a commercial flight last night, rather than a private jet, and especially without a signed contract with the Runnin’ Rebels it was pretty clear that good news was on the horizon.

Mick was clearly conflicted, as is evident in his official statement above. UNLV was offering him a fully renovated basketball arena, top of the line facilities, a pay raise, which may turn out to be less than originally estimated, several top 25 recruits in his backyard, and the top dog at a school’s most popular sport. This compared to UC where football has taken a priority in recent years, Fifth Third Arena renovations are on the docket but have been delayed, his fully funded locker room upgrades haven’t been green lit, and in general Mick has had to do most of the fund raising himself.

But the UC head coach has a good thing going at Cincinnati. He’s currently paid among the top 25 coaches in college basketball, probably won’t be fired unless the program absolutely tanks, and has a team full of hand pick players. Plus his father, brother, and daughter, over whom he has shared custody rights, are in the area. There are just so many things tying Mick to Cincinnati that it would be nearly impossible for him to be torn away.

That’s not to say UNLV didn’t put all of their cards on the table and make him a nearly refusable offer. It even seemed to surprise their AD Tina Kunzer-Murphy, who appears less connected with reality than someone with the responsibility of running a school’s entire athletic department. That, of course, is her saving face considering she sent Mick back to Cincinnati on a commercial flight. If Kunzer-Murphy really thought he was signed, sealed, and delivered, he would have been flown back on a private jet fully stocked with champagne and lobster.

UNLV’s problems aside, we have to assume that Mike Bohn performed a complete 180 when Mick returned to campus. An administration that dragged its feet on renovating locker rooms after the money was sitting there to kick off construction, I have to imagine that mindset changes immediately. Now, we obviously don’t have details on the meetings between Bohn and Mick over the last 24 hours. We might never know those details. But something kept Mick from being bathed in riches at UNLV and a bigger budget, or a private plane, or Mike Bohn locking in on Fifth Third renovations for 2017 had to have been the kicker.

No matter the circumstances, the fact remains that Mick Cronin will continue to be Cincinnati’s head basketball coach for the 2016-17 season and beyond. Whether or not his relationship with his bosses has improved might be a moot point but we can only hope he starts getting the respect and support that he deserves.