Generation Hex: Perhaps Mick Cronin Hiring By UCLA Wasn't Risky After All

Light years removed from legendary John Wooden compiling a 44-1 NCAA tourney record in his last 11 postseason appearances from 1964 through 1975, the Bruins seemed bound for ruins with annual average of seven league setbacks over last seven seasons until UCLA coach Mick Cronin had a reversal of fortunes by going from First Four to Final Four. In some quarters, the hiring of Cronin was risky insofar as he reached a Sweet 16 only once in his first 11 tourney appearances. He is among the following coaches at least fives games below .500 in NCAA playoff play when they were hired by another university:

• Fran Dunphy (1-9 tourney mark with Penn from 1993 through 2006 when hired by Temple)
• Oliver Purnell (0-6 with Old Dominion, Dayton and Clemson from 1992 through 2010 when hired by DePaul)
• Mick Cronin (6-11 with Murray State and Cincinnati from 2004 through 2019 when hired by UCLA)
• Travis Ford (1-6 with Eastern Kentucky and Oklahoma State from 2005 through 2015 when hired by Saint Louis)