Ohio State Basketball: 9 candidates to replace Chris Holtmann as Head Coach
By Joey Loose
Mick Cronin
This Ohio State opening is one that will attract head coaches from other power conference programs, and that’s certainly the case starting off. There isn’t a necessity to have that kind of previous experience but the Buckeyes may spare no expense to bring aboard the right coach. Reaching out to Cronin could be quite the move, bringing him back closer to home.
Cronin was born and raised in Cincinnati, attending the school, serving as an assistant, and then spending 13 years as the Bearcats’ head coach. He’s led three programs to the NCAA Tournament, with a pair of trips at Murray State and nine straight bids with Cincinnati. Cronin left for UCLA in 2019 and took the Bruins to a surprise Final Four run in his second season, though things have been less sharp recently.
Though UCLA in the midst of struggles this season, Cronin led the Bruins to at least the Sweet Sixteen in every NCAA Tournament since his arrival on the West Coast. In every possible season he’s accomplished what Holtmann failed to do in seven years. Dealing with the buyout might be tedious, but Cronin might invite a return to his home state of Ohio after proving he could win out west.