Arizona fan yells at Cronin’s dad

by: MARK ANDERSON, Associated Press

Job : March 12, 2023 / 3:15 a.m. CDT

Update: March 12, 2023 / 3:15 a.m. CDT

LAS VEGAS, AP — An Arizona fan yelled at UCLA coach Mick Cronin’s father, Hep, after Saturday night’s Pac-12 championship game, according to the Bruins radio show.

When a reporter told Cronin about the apparent incident involving his 81-year-old father after UCLA’s 61-59 loss to the Wildcats, he immediately walked out of the postgame press conference. Sporting director Martin Jarmond quickly followed suit.

The Los Angeles Times reported that security had asked fans in that area to leave and that Jarmond was in touch with conference officials about the situation.

Alex Timiraos, UCLA’s associate athletic director for sports communications, did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment.

Hep Cronin, a successful high school coach, came to national attention during UCLA’s unexpected run to the 2021 Final Four as he reunited with his son at the NCAA Tournament after a year-long physical separation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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