June 27, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's basketball program has hired Katie Cronin as an assistant coach, head coach Michelle Bento announced today. Cronin will begin work on the Mission Campus on Monday. She will share responsibilities related to all aspects of the program, with direct tasks to be announced after Bento fills her one remaining coaching vacancy.
"I am very happy to have Katie join our coaching staff at Santa Clara," Bento said. "She is a hard worker, is enthusiastic, and has a great passion for the game. Katie is the type of person who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. It's very exciting to have her as a part of the Bronco family."
Cronin brings 10 years of basketball experience, including a background as a collegiate and professional player, assistant coach and radio color analyst.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity Michelle has given me," Cronin said. "I'm also excited to be joining the coaching staff of a program that has been as successful as Santa Clara University. It's a positive new step in my life and I'm ready to take it."
A 2000 graduate of Colorado State University, Cronin was a four-year starting forward for the Rams. As a senior, she was an Associated Press honorable mention all-America selection and twice earned Kodak honorable mention all-America honors. Cronin was also a four-time Western Athletic Conference honoree and finished her collegiate career as the league's second all-time leading scorer and rebounder.
Following graduation, she played professionally for a team based in Rishon, Israel, and also spent time in Freiburg, Germany, during the 2001-02 season. Also during that time, Cronin was invited to the WNBA training camps for both the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty. Cronin also worked for Clear Channel Radio in Fort Collins for CSU women's basketball games and was a color commentator.
During the 2000-01 season, Cronin was an assistant coach at Seton Hall University, where she was responsible for player development, monitoring academic progress, recruiting, scouting, travel, and community service.