Cincy Wastes No Time Announcing New Coach: In a span of just a few hours, everything changed at Cincinnati. Two Bearcat starters were declared ineligible Thursday. Hours later, Cincinnati lost 65-62 at home to South Carolina in the NIT, ending the Bearcats’ season. Former coach Bob Huggins officially accepted a job at Kansas State. Current interim coach Any Kennedy ended any remaining speculation of becoming Cincinnati’s permanent coach by accepting the Mississippi position. And finally, school officials announced the future coach — Mick Cronin.
Cronin comes back to Cincinnati after coaching Murray State to a 69-23 record in three seasons. He was a Bearcat assistant coach under Huggins before leaving to work for Louisville coach Rick Pitiono for a couple of seasons. Cronin had brought tremendous success to the Racers, including this season’s Ohio Valley Conference championship and a run to the NCAA Tournament. In the tournament, No. 14 Murray State gave all No. 3 North Carolina could handle before losing in the final minute. [3/27/06]
