UC's Cronin still hopes to coach games this season
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 4:03 p.m. EST January 17, 2015


UC coach Mick Cronin is determined to return to the sideline this season.(Photo: Enquirer file)

Mick Cronin hopes to be coaching University of Cincinnati basketball games again by March, despite the recent announcement that Cronin would not return to the bench until the 2015-16 season for health reasons.

"Hope is a great thing," Cronin said, on the eve of Saturday night's UC-Temple game. "If I continue to feel great like I have, you know me, I'm going to be pushing to come back. I'm also realistic. I'll do what my doctors say."

Cronin has been sidelined since Dec. 20 after suffering persistent headaches, and he was diagnosed with a non-life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection.


Bearcats head basketball coach Mick Cronin has been diagnosed with arterial dissection, and will not return to the UC sideline for the rest of the season.

UC announced Jan. 2 that Cronin would not coach practices or games for the rest of the 2014-15 season. Associate head coach Larry Davis has been filling in for Cronin.

His doctors have said that, with rest and medication, Cronin can return to the UC bench next season. The headaches are gone and Cronin is working with the Bearcats behind the scenes, including game planning and recruiting.

Many media outlets, including ESPN and Sports Illustrated, have done interviews with Cronin regarding his condition. Cronin also talked of an early return to the bench in a New York Times story this past week.

Cronin said he is due for his next medical evaluation by early March. If all goes well, Cronin hopes to return around the time UC is entering postseason play.

"If I'm feeling great I'll be pushing them for, 'Let's do the CAT scan right now,' " Cronin said with a laugh. "The doctor is liable to say that even if we do it, it would be idiotic to push the envelope with this."

The 43-year-old Cronin said doctors have told him that, once he gets through treatment, he should not have to deal with this condition for the rest of his life.

Yet, this is also the kind of thing that rival recruiters could use against the Bearcats. That is another reason why Cronin wants to return to the sidelines this season, to prove that he is fine physically.

"You always have hope," Cronin said. "Hope keeps a lot of people going."

UC entered Saturday night's game against Temple with a 4-3 record since Davis took over, and the Bearcats were 11-5 overall (2-2 American Athletic Conference).

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../21887079/

I hope so too Mick. Get well.

I hope he is not getting too antsy and pushing things. Kind of like a football player who comes back from an injury too soon and re-injures himself even worse.

Don't push it Mick..But I would love to see him back on the sideline.