Why UCLA's Mick Cronin keeps leaning into the ‘villain’ narrative

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Why UCLA's Mick Cronin keeps leaning into the ‘villain’ narrative originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin finds his name in headlines again, and for the wrong reasons. His latest transgressions were almost shocking but not at all isolated incidents. Cronin comes off as the villain of his own team and the pattern of behavior started long before this week.

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Cronin doesn’t seem to make sports news headlines unless he is overreacting to scenarios that don’t match his rage. The perplexing aspect of his behavior though, is most of it would come off as borderline understandable if not done so publicly.

Coaches yell. Coaches have meltdowns over mental mistakes. Coaches have even been known to kick a player out of practice from time to time. What makes those factors less jarring is that we don’t see them.  

USA Today recently described Cronin as a “Bully”, and moniker is objectively earned.

Revisiting the Michigan State shenanigans

Tuesday night, the UCLA Bruins lost convincingly to No. 15 Michigan State on the road by a final score of 82-59. The fireworks associated with that game were not provided by the players; they were provided by Cronin.

With a little under five minutes left to play with the Bruins down by 27 points, Cronin illogically lost it. Bruins forward Steve Jamerson trailing a fast break attempted to block Spartan Carson Cooper’s would be dunk. Nothing dirty and nothing objectionable. Cooper took exception to the foul and the two faced each other and words were exchanged.

Jamerson was assessed a flagrant 1 foul and Cronin wasted no time in ejecting his own player. Not an official ejecting Jamerson for a fragrant 2 or throwing punches. Cronin ejected his own player for a play that by any measure was perfectly within reason, just a second late.

After the loss to Michigan State, Cronin felt justified in directing his anger at a reporter. During that exchange it was obvious Cronin did not appreciate a Michigan State student section question. Despite the nature of the question, every word of Cronin’s response was unprofessional and childish.

"I would like to give you kudos for the worst question I've ever been asked," Cronin said. "You really think I care about the other team's student section?"

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Later Cronin would tell that reporter “I answered your question”. Not only was there not an answer, but he also responded with an unnecessary statement and a question. He then attempted to bully the reporter in a way that has never mattered in the history of sports media. Raising his voice. Something reporters have to do often.

“Yeah, you are”, Cronin said. “Everybody is standing here listening to you. Everybody. This is on camera. They can hear you. I answered the question. I can give a rat’s ass about the other team’s student section.” He’s right. It was on camera, but the reporter is not the one that looks foolish today. 

Revisiting the pattern of behavior

Cronin has a tendency to drag his players when the cameras are on. Many times, attacking their intelligence and toughness beyond what would be considered acceptable. Like a bully, Cronin is performing for a crowd, not knowing he’s the antagonist in these stories.

After a loss to Stanford in 2024, Cronin dropped a veiled insult about his players' intelligence. “The most important thing for a teacher is for his students to have aptitude or they can’t learn,” Cronin said. “If a team makes adjustments, we struggle to adjust to instruction on the fly.”

Also in 2024, Cronin again painted his players negatively, this time of having maturity issues. Not a smart decision if motivating players is the idea. Nor does it help when it comes to recruiting. “You can't call your mommy; she can't help you,” Cronin said. “You've got an opportunity of a lifetime, and it may not last forever depending on your performance.”

In 2025 Cronin stepped up the attacks on intelligence calling his players delusional. Every player thinks they are better than they are, what is the benefit of saying this publicly? "It’s really hard to coach people that are delusional," the UCLA coach said. "We got guys who think they’re way better than they are. They’re nice kids. They’re completely delusional about who they are.”

Almost all of his public comments of this nature read like he is great and the players are the problem. While that conceptually could be true, he’s been doing this for years. At some point the ownness of UCLA’s position in the standings and their win/loss record falls on the coach. If his players were not smart enough in 2024, what is his excuse in 2026? Apparently, it’s to continue playing the tough old school card and skirting any ownership of the problem. 

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“If you’re hard on Little Johnny in this era,” he said earlier this month, “you might get investigated.”, after a win at Rutgers.

Per Greg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star, NBA scouts have confirmed to him that the behavior of Cronin is not limited to when the cameras are on. “He mother------- them in practice like you wouldn’t believe,” the scout said. “Mick is the only coach I know who doesn’t film his practice. You know why? He doesn’t want evidence,” according to Doyel’s source.

UCLA might have a larger problem on their hands than being on the outside of the NCAA tournament projections. Cronin by all accounts is a good basketball coach. However, if he doesn't get control over these moments, he might not be long for the position he holds. Whether that comes down to a UCLA decision or future players wanting nothing to do with his program. 

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