Cincinnati coach Cronin out for rest of season

Jan 2, 2015 - 5:22 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Cincinnati men's basketball head coach Mick Cronin will not coach his team in practices or games for the rest of the 2014-15 season because of a non-life threatening vascular condition known as arterial dissection.

Cronin will stay with the team in an advisory role that includes directing the coaching staff, game planning and recruiting.

The 43-year-old Cronin has missed three games since Dec. 20, when the school announced he had an unruptured aneurysm. The Bearcats are 2-1 under assistant Larry Davis, who was previously the head coach at Furman from 1998-2006.

"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. "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 outlook is positive, and doctors say they expect the condition will not prevent him from returning to the court next season.

"The prognosis is excellent," UC health director of neurosurgery Norberto Andaluz, 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, 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."

Cincinnati is 9-3 and faces SMU on Saturday.