The Cincinnati Bearcats lost their head coach to another school when Mike Cronin left them to take the head coaching job with the UCLA Bruins. So, they returned the favor by naming Northern Kentucky's head man, John Brannen, as their next head coach on Sunday. Brannen has big shoes to fill in Cronin, who spent 13 seasons with the Bearcats, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past nine seasons before going elsewhere earlier this week. Cincinnati athletic director Mike Bohn made the announcement of the new hire on Sunday, expressing how "thrilled" they are to bring in their new head man.
Brannen has spent the past four seasons at Northern Kentucky, leading them to the NCAA Tournament two times, while also winning the Horizon League twice in the past three years. They were in the March Madness Tournament this past season as well, falling in the first round to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who ended up in the National Championship Game.
The new Bearcats head coach took over Northern Kentucky in 2015, and before that was an assistant under Anthony Grant with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He spent six seasons with the Tide, while also coaching underneath Grant for three years at VCU. He will now get his first shot at a major head coaching gig, taking over a Big East team that will look to keep their Tournament consistency alive.
Brannen has spent the past four seasons at Northern Kentucky, leading them to the NCAA Tournament two times, while also winning the Horizon League twice in the past three years. They were in the March Madness Tournament this past season as well, falling in the first round to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who ended up in the National Championship Game.
The new Bearcats head coach took over Northern Kentucky in 2015, and before that was an assistant under Anthony Grant with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He spent six seasons with the Tide, while also coaching underneath Grant for three years at VCU. He will now get his first shot at a major head coaching gig, taking over a Big East team that will look to keep their Tournament consistency alive.
