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| Mark Few | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mark Few |
| Caption | Few in 2015 |
| Birth date | 27 December 1962 |
| Birth place | Whittier, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Gonzaga University |
| Occupation | College basketball coach |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Employer | Gonzaga University |
| Known for | Head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball |
Mark Few
Mark Few is an American collegiate basketball coach who has been the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball program since 1999. Under his direction, Gonzaga evolved from a regional competitor into a perennial national contender in the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division I men's basketball landscape and the West Coast Conference. Few's tenure has elevated the profile of Gonzaga University, produced professional players for the National Basketball Association and international leagues, and reshaped mid-major perceptions in college basketball.
Few was born in Whittier, California and raised in the Pacific Northwest, attending high school in Covington, Washington and developing as a point guard influenced by West Coast basketball traditions. He played collegiately at Gonzaga University as a walk-on guard under head coaches affiliated with the program during the 1980s, interacting with assistant coaches, athletic staff, and teammates who would later populate collegiate and professional staffs across programs such as Saint Mary's College of California, Santa Clara University, and Portland State University. Few completed a degree at Gonzaga, engaging with campus organizations and regional recruiting networks that connected him with high school programs in Washington (state), Oregon, and California.
Few began his coaching trajectory at the high school and junior college level before joining the coaching staff at Gonzaga University as an assistant in the late 1980s. As an assistant, he worked alongside head coaches who navigated the program through NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament appearances and conference realignments. Few's early responsibilities included player development, scouting opponents like Brigham Young University, University of San Diego, and University of Portland, and managing recruiting pipelines that linked Gonzaga to preparatory programs and academies. He later served as interim head coach and associate head coach positions within the program, collaborating with administrators at Gonzaga and peer institutions in the West Coast Conference.
Assuming the full-time head coaching role at Gonzaga in 1999, Few guided the Bulldogs to sustained success, accumulating conference titles, NCAA tournament berths, and deep runs that included multiple appearances in the NCAA Final Four and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship game. His teams posted high national rankings in the Associated Press polls and Coaches Poll, often contending with power-conference programs such as Duke University, University of North Carolina, University of Kentucky, University of Kansas, and University of Connecticut in nonconference scheduling and postseason matchups. Few recruited and coached athletes who advanced to the National Basketball Association—including selections in the NBA Draft—and to professional careers in the EuroLeague, Liga ACB, and other international competitions. Under Few, Gonzaga expanded athletic facilities and fundraising efforts, coordinating with university presidents and athletic directors while negotiating scheduling agreements with institutions like Michigan State University and Arizona State University.
Few's coaching emphasizes efficient offensive spacing, perimeter shooting, ball movement, and continuity between seasons. He has integrated analytical approaches and statistical evaluation into game planning, collaborating with sports performance staff, strength and conditioning coaches, and scouting departments. Few's systems favor adaptable lineups that exploit mismatches against programs such as Villanova University, Syracuse University, and Indiana University by employing motion offense concepts and pick-and-roll variations. Defensively, his teams have utilized situational schemes aimed at limiting transition opportunities against pace-oriented opponents like University of Louisville and University of Connecticut. Few's emphasis on player development, academic performance, and program culture has been reflected in retention rates and graduation outcomes compared against peer institutions in the West Coast Conference.
Few is married and resides in Spokane, Washington, where Gonzaga University is located. He is active in community and philanthropic initiatives that interface with local educational institutions, youth basketball programs, and healthcare organizations in the Spokane region. Few's family life has intersected with media coverage and institutional ceremonies at Gonzaga, including athletic facility dedications and alumni events that involve university trustees and donors.
Few's accolades include multiple West Coast Conference Coach of the Year awards, national coach of the year recognitions from coaching associations and media outlets, and milestone win totals placing him among the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I men's basketball. His teams' NCAA tournament successes, regular-season championships, and contributions to the growth of Gonzaga's athletic profile have been acknowledged by organizations such as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame community and national sports media. Few's mentorship of players who progressed to the NBA and professional circuits, coupled with program-building achievements, situates him among prominent figures in modern college basketball.
Category:Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball coaches Category:1962 births Category:Living people