The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? tioning with his teammates, even running a sub six-min- ute mile. The more he did, though, the worse he got. Early in his sophomore year, Cronin was still laboring up and down the floor and not the athlete he'd once been. The good days dis- appeared, and doctors finally broke the news he feared most — to avoid further and per- haps permanent damage, he needed to undergo another surgery and quit basketball. He was in Beilein's office when he made the decision. "I'll be honest, that was pretty stressful," he said. "I had pretty high hopes." Player and coach addressed the team together, an an- nouncement that cast a pall over a team ready to embark on the season that would be the first step in turning Michi- gan basketball into a con- tender. Cronin spent the first few days away from Crisler Arena, too devastated to watch his team- mates proceed without him. Beilein had given him the option to walk away while honoring his scholarship, but he also offered to let him stay on as a student coach. Cronin averaged 12.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 7.2 blocks and 2.1 Cronin recalled. "I was angry. It was too hard to be around it. But Coach Beilein kind of laid it out there, told me that I was part of the family and he wanted me around. I wanted to do whatever I could to help my teammates." Days later, he was back in action helping coach the big men and of- fering advice to his friends. He was "I thought about not coming back," The Ben Cronin File State … 2008 Central New York Player of the Year … Aver- aged 12.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 7.2 blocks and 2.1 assists per game during his three-year prep career … Three-year starter, started every game from the beginning of his sopho- more season, 70 straight games … Led Henninger to a 56-14 record in that stretch … Holds the Henninger school record for blocked shots (506), breaking the former record of 290 held by Andray Blatche (NBA, Brooklyn Nets) … Posted 17 career triple-doubles (points, rebounds and blocked shots) … Averaged 19.1 points, 15.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 6.2 blocks as a senior … Led Henninger to a 21-3 record and a final AA state ranking of No. 6 … Averaged 10.4 points, 11.2 Prep Accomplishments: 2008 second-team All-New York rebounds, 3.1 assists and 7.3 blocks as a junior. Michigan Accomplishments: Played in two games as a freshman, including a career-high eight minutes against Norfolk State (Nov. 25) in which he notched a career-best six points while grabbing two rebounds and recording his first career blocked shot … Had season-ending surgery on his left hip in January 2009 … Appeared in five games as a sophomore before his hip injury ended his playing career … Stayed on as a student assistant and helped lead the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title since 1986. Education: Cronin will finish his degree in education and earn his teaching certificate in spring of 2013, and he'll walk December 2012 at the Crisler Center. NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 117 a shoulder to lean on when times were tough for others, attended ev- ery game and practice and did what he thought his father would want him to do — he honored his commit- ment to the program. In doing so, he seemed to find his calling. An education major, he used it as an opportunity to hone his teaching skills. He's since done some student teaching at Ann Ar- bor elementary and middle schools and, more recently, started the final step toward his teaching certificate at Dexter. Cronin was an immediate hit among the students, with many rec- assists per game during his three-year prep career. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS Once an NBA prospect who signed autographs, Cro- nin now seems destined for a career as an educator, and possibly a coach. Beilein has said he sees him as a varsity coach someday, but Cronin wouldn't rule out the colle- giate level, if things were to go well. He's already gotten offers from local prep coaches to be an assistant, and he'll have his pick of a few when he starts making his calls. Meanwhile, he's set to graduate in the spring with his teaching certificate once his student teaching at Dexter is completed and will fittingly walk this December in the refurbished and spectacular Crisler Center. He'll have options upon graduation and still remains in constant contact with his family back in New York, but Ann Arbor has become his home away from home, bad memories having given way to great experiences. "I love it here," Cronin said. "I know you can't always choose where you're going to go, but if I have the chance, I would love to stay around this area." ognizing him as a former Wol- verine when he first showed up to teach physical educa- tion. "Some people look at it as just teaching a gym class, but it's more than that," he said of the possibility of making it a career. "It's such a big issue now with childhood obesity and kids needing to get into shape." of occasions, Ann Arbor would be fortunate to have him. u As Beilein has said on a number