UCLA signs head coach Mick Cronin to new six-year contract
Ahead of Thursday night’s NCAA Tournament game, UCLA is re-upping its commitment to coach Mick Cronin for the long-haul.
First reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel and announced shortly after by the program, UCLA has officially signed Cronin to a new six-year deal that’ll keep him in Westwood through the 2027-28 season.
𝐌𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐢𝐱-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭#GoBruins
🖇️🖋️ : https://t.co/8QTU7gN0SE pic.twitter.com/vUTnfKOfRw
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 17, 2022
Just last April, the two sides agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2026–27 season for Cronin after he helped guide the Bruins to their first Final Four appearance since 2008 and a 22-10 record.
Since, the Bruins have established themselves as a legitimate force in the West. UCLA went 25-7 this season, climbing as high as No. 2 in the AP poll and playing for a Pac-12 championship. The Bruins are a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament. They’ll face Akron Thursday night at 6:50 p.m. PT on TBS.
Through three seasons as the Bruins’ head coach, Cronin has compiled a 66-29 record.
“Mick Cronin is one of the best coaches in the country, and this deal signifies our commitment to keeping him at UCLA and competing for national championships,” UCLA athletic director Marin Jarmond said in a release. “Mick is the right leader for our program because he knows what it means to represent the four letters, he won’t settle for less than being an elite program, and he wins with integrity. He has done a tremendous job of developing young men, and his players respect him.”
Cronin is one of just four active head coaches to have led his teams to each of the last 11 NCAA Tournaments (including this season). He joins Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, and Kansas’ Bill Self in that regard.
“I believe we have created a culture of success and competitive greatness at UCLA,” Cronin said. “I am totally committed to seeing this process through with the goal of becoming national champions and one of the elite programs in college basketball. I’m grateful for the commitment from UCLA, and in particular to Chancellor Block and Martin Jarmond as they trust me to continue leading this program forward. I look forward to working with all of our constituents as we lead UCLA in this evolving landscape of collegiate sports.
“We have the best of so many resources and opportunities at UCLA, and it’s my desire to have the best basketball program as well. To our fans and all our students, please know how much I deeply appreciate your support. You have made my last three years so special, and you motivate me to work harder for you every day. Go Bruins.”
According to Thamel, Cronin’s new deal will keep him among the 15 highest-paid coaches in college basketball and bump him ahead of Oregon’s Dana Altman for the title of highest-paid coach in the Pac-12. According to the USA Today database for coaching salaries, Cronin was behind Altman this season by roughly $60,000. The Bruins aren’t expected to release financial details for his new deal at this time, according to Thamel.