Mick Cronin leaves UNLV with no deal in place

All signs pointed to UNLV naming Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin as its next head coach, but according to the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Las Vegas Review-Journal Cronin left Las Vegas with no deal in place.

Cronin offered a minimal comment to the Enquirer.

Cronin said via text to The Enquirer that nothing would be happening Thursday.

UNLV athletics director Tina Kunzer-Murphy told the Review-Journal in a text message she had "no news to report."

Cincinnati is pushing to keep Cronin in town.

I've been in touch with AD Mike Bohn and he is doing everything he can to negotiate with Mick to keep him in Cincinnati.

— Santa J. Ono (@PrezOno) March 23, 2016

Then there is the latest speculation that Pittsburgh is now interested in Cronin's services as their next head coach, so there is more competition for UNLV to land Cronin.

Having Cronin leave without a deal does not mean one will not happen, but the odds decrease with him heading back to Ohio. Also, another red flag is that the University of Nevada Board of Regents canceled its scheduled ad hoc Committee on Athletics meeting for Wednesday and also its full board meeting for Thursday.

The details of the contract would have been needed to be in place by Friday, but now the regents will wait until a coach is hired before scheduling a meeting.

UNLV has made it clear that Cronin has been their top choice all along as he has had success with the Bearcats that include an overall record of  207-129 and has made six straight NCAA Tournaments.

Despite the success Cronin has had at Cincinnati with the wins, a salary over $2 million per year and being an alum; he is testing the waters due to the urgency to upgrade its basketball facilities. Those upgrades are in place but they have been delayed and likely frustrating Cronin.

After Cronin, UNLV is reportedly targeting former UCLA and St. John’s coach Steve Lavin and current New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies.