UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin appeared on the The Field of 68 college basketball show on Friday, where Cronin discussed his former players reaching back out to Cronin following their playing days.
“I can not tell you how many players that have played for me that need help when they’re done playing,” Cronin said. “Jobs, going back to school, so that they can get their degree, because they left and played in Europe or wherever they played, and they need six classes to graduate.”
It’s a real side of college sports in today’s age where players are heading to the pros early. Not every move works out though, leading to some players reaching out to Cronin for an off-court assist. Cronin explained how colleges used to help out former student-athletes, but now in the NIL era, things are a bit different.
“There was a return program for athletes. Meaning Jaylen Clark, left after his junior year,” Cronin said using the former Bruin guard as an example. “He wants his degree, OK, UCLA’s helping him get this degree. For a guy who only went to a school for seven months, and got paid millions to play at that school, they’re not going to pay for him to come back.”
Loyalty has faded in college sports this decade, with portal movement leading to both players and teams feeling less indebted to each other. It’ll be hard for Cronin’s assistance to out-weigh a larger NIL deal for a young player, but for a legacy-driven program like UCLA, it’s a good look to take care of their student-athletes.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Mick Cronin speaks on former players reaching out post-basketball
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
