Overall, Cronin has played  on or coached for four national championship teams as he did so with Georgetown (Ky.) twice as a player and with Florida in his first and third seasons as a graduate assistant. Cronin went to Gainesville after spending the 2005 season at Marshall, where he was the offensive and special teams quality control assistant. In that role, Cronin performed multiple duties, including film break down and statistical analysis.

Prior to Marshall, Cronin worked at Division at Division II Clarion University for two years working with the linebackers.
Cronin went to Moeller High School in Cincinnati and attended the University of Cincinnati, where he was defensive end before transferring to Georgetown College (Ky.), where he played defensive end his first season and defensive tackle during his final two years. As a player, Cronin was part of three teams that played for the national championship and two that won the title. In 2002, he was an All-American and All-Conference selection. Upon graduation from Georgetown (Ky.) College, Cronin spent the spring semester of his senior year interning at his alma mater assisting with the defensive line and in strength and conditioning efforts

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In 2003, Cronin earned his B.A. in history and a minor in coaching from Georgetown (Ky.). In 2005, he completed work for a master's in rehabilitation science while at Clarion University. At Marshall, he finished 12 hours towards a master's in sports mangement.