Lawsuit: UC's Mick Cronin owes sports agency $206K
A sports agency says University of Cincinnati men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin owes at least $206,000 in unpaid fees and interest related to contract negotiations.
The New York City-based agency, now known as The Legacy Agency, says it negotiated Cronin’s first contract with the university in 2006 as well as five subsequent amendments. That includes a 2014 extension that is expected to pay him more than $2 million a year through March 2021.
The lawsuit, filed March 2 in a New York state court, says Cronin agreed to pay the agency 4 percent of all guaranteed compensation.
It says the agency represented Cronin in the discussions and negotiations that resulted in his first contract as well as the extensions.
The lawsuit says Cronin didn’t pay six invoices, each for $25,000, submitted between June 2014 and November 2016. The invoices total $150,000. The agency is seeking that amount plus interest.
“TLA has demanded payment of said past due management fees,” the lawsuit says, “and Cronin has failed and refused to pay the same.”
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UC associate athletic director Ryan Koslen said the lawsuit “is a personal matter for coach Cronin. We are not going to comment on it.”
Cronin’s contract includes $400,000 in base salary, $400,000 for radio and television, $400,000 for speaking and other personal appearances, and $600,000 for UC's shoe, equipment and clothing deal with Under Armour. The bonus structure can take the deal above $2 million with a variety of incentives, including for conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances and players' academic performance.
The Legacy Agency was formed in 2011, according to a news release, when The Agency Sports Management, which represented Cronin, merged with another firm.
Editor's note: A previous version of this article referred to the UC apparel provider as Adidas. Under Armour became the official UC apparel provider in 2015. The Enquirer regrets the error.
Staff writer Tom Groeschen contributed to this report.