University of Cincinnati Athletics announced Friday that head coach Mick Cronin will continue to oversee the men’s basketball program in an advisory role for the remainder of the 2014-15 Bearcats season while dealing with a non-life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection.
For precautionary reasons, Cronin will not coach the Bearcats during practices or games this season, but will continue running the program, directing the coaching staff, game planning and recruiting.
"I have the utmost confidence in our coaching staff and players that we will continue to develop as a team and play Bearcats basketball," Cronin said. "This program is bigger than any coach or player. I don’t want this to be a distraction but instead want the focus to be on the growth and support of this team.
"Please know I am doing fine and look forward to continuing to help our basketball staff and players in my new, but temporary role as the Bearcats’ general manager for the rest of the year."
Cronin’s arterial dissection was originally discovered in mid-December during a routine workup scheduled after a complaint of lingering headaches. He sat out UC’s contests against VCU (Dec. 20), Wagner (Dec. 23) and N.C. State (Dec. 30) while awaiting test results and treatment options.
"The prognosis is excellent," UC Health Director of Neurosurgery, Norberto Andaluz (An-dah-Looz), M.D. stated. "An important part of Mr. Cronin’s treatment and recovery includes rest, medication and keeping a normal blood pressure."
"We are optimistic in this case," said Mario Zuccarello (Zook-a-Rello), M.D., chair of the UC Health department of neurosurgery. "Coach Cronin’s career is not jeopardized by this condition and we all look forward to seeing him back on the court next season and enjoying a long successful career thereafter."
"I appreciate the UC Health medical community and all the attention and care they provided me as we searched for the cause of my discomfort," Cronin said. "I also want to thank UC President Santa Ono, the Board of Trustees and Director of Athletics Mike Bohn. This obviously has been tough for me and I’m grateful for all of their tremendous support to myself, our coaching staff and our players."
Ninth-year associate head coach Larry Davis will lead the Bearcats during Cronin’s absence. Davis previously spent nine years as head coach at Furman (1998-2006) compiling a 124-139 record. UC men’s basketball director of student-athlete development Mark Berger also will be elevated to an assistant coach for practices and games during the remainder of the 2014-15 campaign.
