Cincinnati Bearcats Coach Mick Cronin to Miss Rest of Season

At 9-3, there is not a lot going wrong for the Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team this season. Unfortunately, it appears things have taken a turn for the worse, as they will be without head coach Mick Cronin for the rest of the season.

Cronin will have an advisor role with the coaching staff after it was revealed he would be unable to coach due to a vascular condition known as arterial dissection. The good news is the vascular condition is non-life threatening. The bad news is the Bearcats will be without their coach in a pivotal season.

“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 in a statement, according to ESPN. “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.”

Even though Cronin will be unable to participate in practices or coach games, he will still be the director of the basketball program. That means essentially telling the coaching staff what to do. He also will remain active in recruiting.

For anyone wondering why he can still be active within the program while not coaching, the reason is because he has been advised by doctors to avoid as much stress as possible. Obviously, coaching at any level provides a certain level of stress that normal human beings are not accustomed to dealing with on an everyday basis.

Therefore, Cronin has been asked to step down until his condition improves, which most likely will not happen until after the season.