Final season noticed UCLA coach Mick Cronin at his crankiest (and, I might argue, funniest). He had a lot of postgame rants that went viral amid a just-OK 23-win run that ended within the second spherical of the NCAAs with Cronin capping the season by crapping on the NCAA’s flight preparations. As Cronin’s continued to talk his thoughts the previous two years, there’s been regular gossip in school hoops circles that he might need a wandering eye for different jobs. Nicely, if he did, that is now nearly definitely off the desk.
In mid-Could, Cronin signed a two-year contract extension with UCLA that elevated his wage, buyout and severance phrases.
CBS Sports activities not too long ago obtained the brand new contract, which when unreported till simply this week, when the LA Occasions first acquired phrase out. Not like in 2022, when Cronin renegotiated, UCLA by no means introduced the up to date deal. This is not typical at a public college with a high-profile program, although UNC was sluggish to announce Hubert Davis’ contract extension final season after it was signed in December of 2024.
Cronin, 54, is now paid $4.5 million yearly — however that is earlier than factoring in a plethora of bonuses that can simply bump his earnings properly above $5 million per 12 months with the easy-to-achieve incentives in his contract. For instance, if Cronin remains to be UCLA’s coach as of April 15, 2026, he’ll be paid an extra $500,000 … simply by holding on to the job. That perk will enhance to a different $600,000 come April 15, 2027, after which $700,000 the following two years as long as he is nonetheless match to educate within the Westwood sunshine.
Cronin had $10 million assured coming to him on the earlier contract (if he’d been fired), however by working a brand new deal, he greater than doubled his payout within the revised paperwork. If the 2 sides sever within the subsequent 5 years, here is the amended cash construction.
If fired with out trigger, UCLA must pay Cronin …
- Earlier than April 1, 2026: $22.5 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2027: $18 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2028: $13.5 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2029: $9 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2030: $4.5 million
If Cronin takes one other job, listed below are his up to date buyout phrases …
- Earlier than April 1, 2026: $15 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2027: $12 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2028: $8 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2029: $6 million
- Earlier than April 1, 2030: $4 million
The circumstances nearly definitely lock up the 2 sides by way of the tip of the last decade. Cronin is 145-67 at UCLA on this his eighth season. He is taken the varsity to the NCAAs 4 instances, together with the 2021 Remaining 4 run within the COVID bubble tourney. The 7-3 Bruins are unranked and face Arizona State on Wednesday night time.
This story was included in Matt Norlander’s Courtroom Report, an insider pocket book with scoops, stats and behind-the-scenes tales round school basketball. You’ll be able to learn way more this week, together with Nebraska’s red-hot begin, proper right here.
