Despite speculation to the contrary, Mick Cronin will return as the head basketball at the University of Cincinnati next season.

The Cincinnati Enquirer's Bill Koch wrote on his blog Friday that the athletic director Mike Thomas confirmed to him by phone that Cronin will be back next year.

“I’m an impatient person and I know the Bearcat Nation is impatient, but I think the needle is headed in the right direction,” Thomas told the paper.

Cronin, who has four years on his contract, is nearing the end of his fourth season as the team’s coach. The Bearcats have gone 56-63 in that span, including just a 25-33 mark inside the Big East, and have not made the NCAA Tournament during his tenure.

The reality of the situation is that the program simply does not have the money to buy him out and/or attract a big name coach. Needless to say, the pressure is mounting on Cronin. While he did get handed an empty closet, he’s had time to put his stamp on the program, but the team has yet to get over the hump.

College Hoops cincinnati bearcats, mick cronin, mike thomas